In the garden we are noticing signs of spring and the changes as plants and trees grow buds and leaves, and flowers and blossom start to appear. We will be planting a selection of fruit and veg seeds and caring for them in our nursery garden. This video shows how they will grow.

We will also be looking at baby photos and noticing how we have grown and changed. If you haven’t already sent your child’s baby photo, please email them to [email protected]

We Are Learning… To Listen to and Re-Tell the Story of The Enormous Turnip

Linked to our activities around growing, our core book this term is The Enormous Turnip. We will be reading lots of different versions of the story, noticing the similarities and differences between the stories.

We will be using story maps, props and story stones for re-telling, as well as creating our own stories using the Tales Toolkit.

Please turn over to see the story map for The Enormous Turnip.

The Enormous Turnip

Once upon a time there was on old man who planted a seed in the ground and it grew and grew and grew into an ENORMOUS TURNIP!

First, the old man pulled and pulled but he couldn’t pull it up!

Next, he asked the old woman. They pulled and pulled but they couldn’t pull it up!

Then, they asked a boy. They pulled and pulled but they couldn’t pull it up!

After that, they asked a girl. They pulled and pulled but they couldn’t pull it up!

Finally, they asked a dog. They pulled and pulled and pulled and suddenly…POP! Up popped the Enormous Turnip!

In the end, the old man, the old woman, the boy, the girl and the dog all had turnip soup for dinner!

The End.

We Are Learning… To Notice Shapes, and Choose Items Based on Their Shape for a Particular Purpose

Our maths focus this term is around SHAPES. We will be exploring and noticing shapes and pattern through placing and arranging activities, puzzles, loose parts play and building with construction resources.

We will also be creating pictures and patterns with paper shapes.

In the garden we will be going on a shape hunt and noticing the shapes we find and beginning to learn their names.

What shapes can you find around your home or on your journey to nursery?

Some Exciting Learning Opportunities Coming up This Term

We will continue to have regular visits from Elie who comes to make wonderful music with us each week.

The Children’s Kitchen will be returning for 3 sessions to work with the children around growing and exploring fresh food.

And we will be lucky enough to have a workshop with Travelling Light Theatre Company, helping to learn more about telling stories of our own.

You can find out more about them here.

The post In Owl Room We Are Learning… (April 2025) appeared first on Little Hayes and Speedwell Nursery Schools.

In the garden we are noticing signs of spring and the changes as plants and trees grow buds and leaves, and flowers and blossom start to appear. We will be planting a selection of fruit and veg seeds and caring for them in our nursery garden. This video shows how they will grow.

We will also be looking at baby photos and noticing how we have grown and changed. If you haven’t already sent your child’s baby photo, please email them to [email protected]

We Are Learning… To Listen To and Re-Tell the Story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Linked to our activities around growing and changing , our core book this term is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We will be learning to tell the story in lots of different ways, using props and acting it out. You can watch it here.

We’ve even got some real, live caterpillars to watch as they grow and change into cocoons and then butterflies.

We Are Learning… To Learn and Use Vocabulary to Describe the Shape of Things we Find and Begin to Learn the Names of Shapes

Our maths focus this term is around SHAPES. We will be exploring and noticing shapes and pattern through placing and arranging activities, puzzles, loose parts play and building with construction resources. 

We will also be watching our seeds grow, and using mathematical language (such as big, bigger, biggest) to compare size and shape. We might even have a go at measuring them to find out how tall they get.

Some Exciting Learning Opportunities Coming up This Term

We will continue to have regular visits from Elie who comes to make wonderful music with us each week.

The Children’s Kitchen will be returning for 3 sessions to work with the children around growing and exploring fresh food.

And we will be lucky enough to have a workshop with Travelling Light Theatre Company, helping to learn more about telling stories of our own.

You can find out more about them here.

The post In Wren Room We Are Learning… (April 2025) appeared first on Little Hayes and Speedwell Nursery Schools.

Last week, we went to the park to practice our football skills. We took turns kicking the ball, aiming towards the goal net, and counting the number of goals scored.

This past week, we had a special picnic lunch on the nursery field. Everyone helped set out the blankets, and we sat together. We’ve been learning some new ring games to play together, such as Duck, Duck, Goose (a simple chasing game). To finish the term off, we held egg and spoon races, carefully balancing the eggs on our spoons while running and going over obstacles.

The post Owl Room’s Outdoor Learning (Spring 2025) appeared first on Little Hayes and Speedwell Nursery Schools.

Community Culture Day at Meadow Vale

Join in the celebration on Saturday, March 22nd, from 12 to 4 p.m. at Meadow Vale Community Centre (Speedwell, BS5 7RF). This free event offers a vibrant exploration of different cultures through food, music, dance, art/design, and fashion. Family-friendly activities include a bouncy castle and face painting. Everyone is welcome to this Bristol Community Festival event!

From Roots to Routes: A Community Fun Day

On Saturday, March 29th, from 12 to 3 p.m., The Haven (378 Speedwell Road, BS15 1ES), will host this lively all-age celebration of community past, present, and future. Activities include storytelling, singing, crafts, games, seed planting, outdoor exploration, circus play, and refreshments with a BBQ.

These events are wonderful opportunities for families to connect with our local community. We hope to see many Little Hayes and Speedwell families there!

For more information, please check out the posters below.

The post Exciting March Community Events in Speedwell appeared first on Little Hayes and Speedwell Nursery Schools.

Our maths focus this term is around counting and numerals. We will have lots of opportunities to practice counting and learning to link the count with the numeral. We will be learning lots of songs and games that involve counting too.
We have noticed that numerals are everywhere around us in the environment and we will be “number hunting” around the nursery.

Keep a look out for numbers when you are out and about– on doors, buses, supermarkets and lots more.

We Are Learning… The Story of Lima’s Red Hot Chilli

Lima has bitten a red hot chilli and now her mouth is on fire!!!! What can she do to cool it down?

We will be learning this story as our Core book this term. It will help us to learn about the sequence of a story, but also give us ideas for exploring different foods (not red hot chilli’s though).

Lima’s Red Hot Chilli

One day, there was a girl called Lima who was feeling very hungry.

So her Mum said, ‘Go to the kitchen for something to eat but don’t eat the red hot chilli!’

First, Lima found a big hairy coconut but it was too hairy.

Next, she found a tin of spaghetti but it was too difficult to open.

Then, she found samosas but they were too cold.

After that, she found some sweets but they were too high.

Finally, she saw the red hot chilli and popped it in her mouth. CRUNCH!

Her face got hotter and hotter and hotter! Until it felt like fireworks!

Water, water, try some water said Mum…but her mouth was still hot!

Ice cream, ice cream, try some ice cream said Dad…but her mouth was still hot!

Jelly, jelly, try some jelly said Auntie…but her mouth was still hot!

Mango, mango, try some mango said Grandpa…but her mouth was still hot!

Milk, milk, try some milk said Grandma.

Lima drank a big jug of cold milk. ‘Aaaah that’s better!’ she said.

‘I’m never eating a red hot chilli again!’

The End.

We Are Learning… To Listen to and Respond to Music with Movement, Dance and Instruments

We will be listening to lots of different types of music at nursery, thinking about the sounds we hear, how they make us feel and how we want to move to the music. Ellie will continue to visit us weekly for music sessions this term and we will be exploring the sounds we make with musical instruments as well as learning lots of new songs and games.

We would love to know what music you listen to as a family– at home, in the car or out and about. The children love to dance to familiar songs so it would be amazing to make a nursery playlist of songs they know from home. Let us know which songs to add, through Tapestry, or email ([email protected]) or tell your key person. We will then add them to our Spotify playlist to share.

We Are Learning… To Hear and Notice the Initial Sounds in Words

We will be noticing the initial sounds in our names, and other objects, through songs, games and stories, such as B is for Baby by Atinuke.

We will be learning about alliteration, when words start with the same sound, and making up silly alliterative strings and tongue twisters

Lovely Leo Likes Licking Lollipops.

Ten Terrible Tigers Try Teaching Tennis.

Why not have a go– they can be a bit of a tongue twister!

The post In Owl Room We Are Learning… (February 2025) appeared first on Little Hayes and Speedwell Nursery Schools.

We are introducing some new mathematical resources to explore pattern, shape, and size, as well as thinking about the pattern and sequence of the daily routine and in stories (using language such as first, now, next, after, and later).

Linked to our core book we are learning about size (small, medium, and large), length and height (short, shorter, shortest, long, longer, longest, tall, taller, tallest) the numbers 1,2,3, and ordering (first, second, third).

We Are Learning… To Be Independent

We will continue to explore the outdoors in all weathers. The children will be learning to be independent by changing their shoes and putting on their own coats and waterproofs. We are teaching them the coat flip method. Watch and learn together here. It really helps their independence if they wear shoes that are easy to put on and do up.

Please remember to name their shoes and clothes, so that they can find them at the end of the day and provide spare clothes each day in case they get wet or muddy. Thank you.

We Are Learning… To Create and Tell a Story of Our Own

Our core book is the traditional tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We are reading different versions and noticing the similarities and differences between the versions. We are using story maps to re-tell the story and creating our own actions.

We will be continuing to think about characters, settings, problems, and solutions in our Tales Toolkit story sessions and adapting stories with our own characters and ideas.

We will be using our voice sounds, creating different voices for the characters—a deep, gruff voice for daddy bear, a high voice for mummy bear and a tiny, squeaky voice for baby bear. Why not use the story map attached to re-tell the story together at home.

Goldilocks and The Three Bears

Once upon a time there was a daddy bear, mummy baby and baby bear, who went for a walk in the forest. Goldilocks saw the door was open and went inside.

First, Goldilocks tasted the bowls of porridge.
The first bowl was too hot! The second was too cold!
But the last one was…just right! So, she ate it all up.

Next, Goldilocks sat on the chairs.
The first chair was too hard! The second chair was too soft!
But the last one was…just right! But she broke it!

Then, Goldilocks was tired and saw the beds. The first bed was too rough! The second was too smooth!
But the last one was…just right! And Goldilocks fell asleep!

Suddenly, the Bears came home!

Baby bear started to cry.
Who’s been eating my porridge? They ate it all up and left none!

Who’s been sitting in my chair? They sat in the chair and broke it!

Who’s been sleeping in my bed? They slept in my bed, and they are still in it!

Just then, Goldilocks woke up! Aaaagh! ‘A bear!’ screamed Goldilocks. Aaaaagh! ‘a girl!’ screamed the bears and they all ran away.

And the bears never forgot to lock their front door again!

The End.

Download the Story Map below.

Music Exploration

We are delighted to welcome back Ellie, an early year’s music specialist from Bristol Beacon who will join us for singing and musical exploration sessions.

We will be working together to explore different sounds and how we can move to the music.

Home Learning Links

We will be sharing a range of books linked to our core text and mathematical themes at nursery, as well as sending some books home to share as a family. If your child doesn’t have a book bag, please let us know.

The Words for Life website has some fantastic reading ideas and activities to support your child’s learning at home.

The Early Childhood Maths Group also has some great ideas to promote mathematical thinking at home.

The post In Owls Room We Are Learning… (January 2025) appeared first on Little Hayes and Speedwell Nursery Schools.

We will be using patterns of actions in songs and stories, as well as thinking about the pattern of the daily routine, with language such as first, now, next, after, and later.

Linked to our core book we will be learning the vocabulary of size (small, medium and large), height (short, shorter, shortest, tall, taller, tallest) numbers 1,2,3 and ordering (first, second, third).

We Are Learning… To Be Independent

We will continue to explore the outdoors in all weathers. The children will be learning to be independent by changing their shoes and putting on their own coats and waterproofs.

We are teaching them the coat flip method. Watch and learn together here. It really helps their independence if they wear shoes that are easy to put on and do up.

Please remember to name their shoes and clothes, so that they can find them at the end of the day, and provide spare clothes each day in case they get wet or muddy. Thank you.

We Are Learning… To Take Part in Shared Reading and Tales Toolkit activities, and Respond to the Features of Stories

Our core book is the traditional tale, The Three Billy Goats Gruff. We are using props and story maps to re-tell the story and creating different voices for the characters—a deep, gruff voice for the big Billy Goat Gruff, a tiny voice for the little Billy Goat Gruff and a scary troll voice.

We will be learning to talk about characters, settings, problems and solutions in our Tales Toolkit story sessions and using the story props in our play.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Once upon a time there were three Billy Goats Gruff

Little Billy Goat, Middle-Sized Billy Goat and Big Billy Goat.

They lived on a hill by a river, but they had a problem.

There was no grass on their hill so they needed to go over the bridge to eat the green grass BUT under the bridge there lived a big, scary Troll

First the little goat went to the bridge

‘WHO’S THAT TRIP TRAPPING OVER MY BRIDGE?’ shouted the Troll

‘It’s me, Little Billy Goat Gruff’.

‘I’M GOING TO EAT YOU UP!’ said the Troll

‘Don’t eat me, I’m only little, wait for my brother, he’s much bigger than me’.

‘Alright’ said the Troll, and the Little Billy Goat Gruff went trip, trap, trip, trap over the bridge to eat the green grass.

Next came the 2nd billy goat, Middle-Sized Billy Goat Gruff.

‘WHO’S THAT TRIP TRAPPING OVER MY BRIDGE?’ shouted the Troll

‘It’s me, Middle-Sized Billy Goat Gruff’.

‘I’M GOING TO EAT YOU UP!’ said the Troll

‘Don’t eat me, I’m only middle-sized, wait for my brother, he’s much bigger than me’.

‘Alright’ said the Troll, and the Middle-Sized Billy Goat Gruff went trip, trap, trip, trap over the bridge to eat the sweet, green grass.

Next came the 3rd billy goat, Big Billy Goat Gruff.

‘WHO’S THAT TRIP TRAPPING OVER MY BRIDGE?’ shouted the Troll

‘It’s me, Big Billy Goat Gruff’.

‘I’M GOING TO EAT YOU UP!’ said the Troll

‘OH NO YOU’RE NOT!’ said Big Billy Goat Gruff and he put down his head and butted the Troll with his horns.

The troll flew in the air and fell into the river with a SPLASH and was never seen again.

Big Billy Goat Gruff went TRIP, TRAP, TRIP, TRAP over the bridge and joined his brothers eating the green grass, and they lived happily ever after.

Download the Story Map below.

Home Learning Links

While children are moulding play dough into different shapes, they are building up strength in their tiny hands. The act of manipulating, squishing, rolling, and flattening helps the children to develop muscles in their hands that they need for fine motor movements, such as holding a pencil or using scissors.

This term, as well as exploring playdough, we will be using clay and other malleable materials.

You can create your own playdough to explore together at home with this easy recipe.

What will you create?

The post In Wren Room We Are Learning… (January 2025) appeared first on Little Hayes and Speedwell Nursery Schools.

We have been learning new songs, playing instruments together and dancing in lots of different ways, as well as listening to live music being played on the flute and ukulele. We’ve also had a go at mark making along to musical sounds, illustrating what we think the sound looks like.

We have learned about moving and stopping, whilst singing ‘we walk and we walk and we walk and we stop, and then we dance around’.

The children thought of different ways to move – dancing, flying, stomping and moving like different animals.
We learned the song ‘I Like the Flowers’, and then changed the words to all the things the children like, including the beach, the sun, Hulk and Spiderman! Some of the words were a bit tricky to fit into the tune.

For one session families were invited along and it was lovely to be able to share some of our songs with parents and carers.

We’ve also practised our listening skills, sharing lots of different types of sounds and music and thinking about how they make us want to move. We used pens and paint dabbers to draw what different instruments sound like to us, then listened to some pieces of classical music and drew those- one sounded like a kangaroo and another was floaty like fish in an aquarium. Then we got up and danced to some of the music, moving however it made us feel.

Ellie is going to continue joining us once a week next term and help us to learn lots more about music and songs.
We are planning to make a play list of all the music the children enjoy listening to, at home as well as in nursery. What music do you share as a family? What do you listen to in the car, or the kitchen or anywhere else? Look out for our Tapestry message about this.

The post Musical Exploration in Owls and Wrens Rooms appeared first on Little Hayes and Speedwell Nursery Schools.

Wednesday 4th December – We are closed in the morning for staff training. We re-open at 12.30pm, for children attending Wednesday to Friday and 30 hours.

Tuesday 17th December – 10.45-11.15 am– You are invited to join us for a festive singing session.

Tuesday 17th December PM – We will be having an end of year party during the session. If you would like to provide some party snacks instead of fruit for a special celebration snack time, we would be very grateful (no meat or nuts please).

For Children attending Wednesday to Friday (and 30 Hours)

Wednesday 4th December – We are closed in the morning for staff training. We re-open at 12.30pm as normal.

Thursday 19th December – 10.45-11.15 am– You are invited to join us for a festive singing session.

Thursday 19th December PM – We will be having an end of year party during the session. If you would like to provide some party snacks instead of fruit for a special celebration snack time, we would be very grateful (no meat or nuts please).

End of Term Dates

Friday 20th December – Last day of term 2.

Monday 6th January – First day of term 3 2025.

We hope you have a lovely break and look forward to welcoming you back in 2025.

Photo by Tim Mossholder

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We learned that they like to eat frogs and mice and lots of other small animals. We listened to a recording of the sound they make and found out that Barn Owls don’t go “Twit twoo”, their call is more like a long screech.

Dave has looked after Loki since he was two weeks old and showed us lots of pictures of him as he grew up. He showed us an owl wing and talked about how Loki has a special type of feather that is silent when he flaps his wings so that his prey doesn’t hear him coming.

Some of the adults got to hold Loki on their arms. They had to wear a thick, strong leather glove because Loki has sharp talons on his feet. When it was time to return to the classroom the children made owl masks and pretended to flap their wings and swoop like an owl.

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