Category: News

The Pre-school children enjoyed a fabulous end of year party! The children came dressed up and played on ride on cars, bikes and scooters, they chased bubbles, had fun with balloons, danced and climbed the climbing frame.We played musical bumps, musical statues and pass the balloon under you legs and over your head! Snack time was enjoyed by all. The children tucked into healthy snacks like carrot, cucumber, houmous, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, apple and grapes. They also really enjoyed some treats: crisps and homemade biscuits and chocolate cupcakes!  In the afternoon we said goodbye to our lovely leavers who will start school in September. We will miss them but wish them the best of luck in the future.  

Hurray! The rain stopped falling and off we went, with our backpacks on our backs, looking forward to our Wakes Week Teddy Bears' Picnic. We used the walking rope to walk to the footpath then it was a short distance to the river. Everyone climbed the stile that led to the footpath. We came across some Jacob sheep enjoying the juicy grass, but they didn't stay with us! All the children had brought packed lunches to share with their teddy friends. Some of us sat on a tree trunk, others on picnic blankets. After eating, there was exploring and dinosaur chasing games! It was fun running up the bank, along and down again. Some of the children spent time viewing the river. The teddies and cuddly toys really enjoyed their…

Despite a rainy outlook, we had a super morning on Hope sports field practising running, jumping and throwing events together. The children worked hard to learn the different rules, such as starting on "Go," keeping going even when knocking a hurdle down, not holding the quoit on your head, working together in a relay team and clapping everyone to say "well done!" We have budding footballers who aimed well to score goals, great throwers throwing bean bags into hoops of a matching colour, fab balancers who kept their potato on their spoon even when running, good runners who sprinted together, super hurdlers who could run and jump and cooperative team players who ran and passed the quoit to their partners. All the children were very happy to earn their super…

  Pet Week! In w/b 16th March, Pre-school experienced visits from a number of different pets as some of our parents kindly did a "show and tell" with their animal friends.     We had dogs, rabbits, even a friendly snake called Arnie! The children were very excited to meet, touch and hear about the animals. They asked questions, made comments and really enjoyed holding them.

[caption id="attachment_852" align="alignleft" width="225"] One of the 12 Dancing Princesses[/caption] [caption id="attachment_853" align="alignright" width="300"] Buzz and Mr. Bump decorating Buzz's birthday cake![/caption] We have been celebrating books this week (2-6th March,) to coincide with World Book Day. The children, aged 2-4 years, love looking at books and listening to adults reading; many love to tell their own imaginative stories and to act them out! We have had Guest Story Time every day; during the week, friends and parents have come into Pre-school to read picture books to the children. The children have also been making books and drawing book characters. On Baking day, the children made gingerbread characters inspired by the famous tale of The Gingerbread Man. Staff have shared favourite books from their own childhood and we have all…

The duck race winner 2019 is Beakwell Tart, sponsored by Tommy, so Tommy and family win our super duck cake!

[caption id="attachment_837" align="alignleft" width="300"] Pumpkin face![/caption] Some great festive activities have been experienced this week, fueled by [caption id="attachment_838" align="alignright" width="300"] Getting messy...[/caption] many of our children's interest in all things spooky! We had a witches' den with cauldron and spell-making resources and suitable dressing-up bits and pieces. The children surprised us by their interest in making ghostly noises, witches' cackles and imaginative spells, e.g. "Bibbity bobbity Heather's voice is gone!" Quite a few of the children enjoyed getting messy exploring jelly and spiders and scooping out pumpkin flesh and seeds! We made use of the seeds by washing them and roasting them into pumpkin seed snacks. [caption id="attachment_834" align="alignright" width="300"] Washing the pumpkin seeds.[/caption] We sang and danced to Dem Bones, The Sorcerers Apprentice and Halloween Chicka-Boom! [caption id="attachment_835"…

[caption id="attachment_822" align="alignright" width="225"] Free dance![/caption] [caption id="attachment_824" align="alignleft" width="300"] Building tunnels.[/caption] We've had a lovely half term settling back into Pre-school routines after the summer break. The children are keeping very busy with many different activities of their own planning; from building buggies, trucks, aeroplanes, tunnels and houses, etc. from a variety of construction sets; creating marvelous pictures and models from mark making tools and resources; moving rhythmically to a range of different musical tunes and sounds and role playing from their own experiences, to name but a few! [caption id="attachment_826" align="alignleft" width="300"] Preparing pizzas.[/caption] The children have been learning new songs; from The Big Ship Sails.. and a number of transport-inspired numbers to Cauliflowers Fluffy and Cabbages Green! They have experienced activities inspired by healthy vegetables and fruits…

The new Pre-school term begins on Wednesday 4th September.  

On Thursday 4th July we will be spending a morning at Castleton Primary school doing Super hero-themed activities. The children are invited to attend dressed-up as a super hero of their choice or imaginings! Children will be dropped off at Castleton Primary school at 9.15 a.m. Mrs. Lees, the head teacher, is organising themed activities for the children to take part in, alongside the Primary school children. We will catch the 12 o'clock bus back to Hope, great super hero travel! Please make sure your child has a sun hat and sun cream applied as we will be spending time outdoors.