May 2022

Parental Engagement at Children's House

We are so lucky to have the most incredibly supportive families at Children's House. 
Staff are always willing to go that extra mile to support families with engagement in children's learning. 
We know that we get the best successes for children when home and school work together. 
This past week alone have seen a trip to

• The Natural History Museum,
• Everyday Maths Workshop and our
• Early Words Together programme continuing with a trip to The Idea's Store.

See what families thought below:

Who saw the dinosaurs?

"It was a nice trip. It was our first time to go there. We really enjoy this trip."
M's mum and dad
"Thank you for this adventure. We really enjoyed the dinosaurs."
A's mum 
"We both thoroughly enjoyed the trip to The Natural History Museum. It was very well organised. Shazna did a great job of explaining the key areas that she thought the children would enjoy most. She also explained some interesting facts. She helped when we needed help with children which was greatly appreciated by us all. The trip was also a great opportunity to get to know other parents. My child even made new friends."
D's mum
​"Thank you for the trip. We especially enjoyed the dinosaur section. Teachers are so informative and my son and I appreciate it." 
P's mum

Everyday Maths with Shazna

"I learn a lot in the session as I did not like maths at school but I enjoyed this session."
S's mum
"It was a great activity and very inspiring. I got a new insight in terms o the teaching of mathematics. It gave me lots of ideas in a more fun way. It was fun and insightful."
F's parent
"I have learned how easily I can use daily activities to teach maths to my child. Thank you."
A's mum
"It was very good experience to meet other parents and learn different ideas from each other. Shazna was amazing with her presentation and explanation - very professional."
I's parent
"The session was very informative and presented in a relaxing atmosphere. It was also good to see the toys and equipment used. Me and A now walk to nursery counting cars, trees, vans, snails etc... We also started playing board games as a family knowing that A is learning maths in a playful and fun manner. The session for me was very interesting as I picked up a lot of useful little tips to implement."
A's dad

​Trip to the Idea Store

​Early Words Together

Baking at Children's House

Over the past two weeks, children across the nursery have had repeated access to baking bread. 
Children started by using a simple recipe for flatbread: they were supported to read the recipe, identify the ingredients and measure them out.
So many skills are needed to do this in a small group: reading, counting, speaking and listening, sharing and cooperation. Children were encouraged to sustain concentration as the process takes time.
They talked about keeping healthy and hygiene too.
Many children showed us they do baking and cooking at home as they had very good knowledge and skills.
They mixed their mixture using their hands: sensory experiences are very important for children to help cognition and language development.
Children observed and talked about the changes as they mixed their ingredients. 
Next they cooked the bread and the smells filled the nursery, making many tummies rumble.
Children then shared their bread together and shared talk and joy.
We know children need lots of opportunities to return to experiences to explore, repeat and master them.
Over time, children have  made flatbread, bread rolls, paratha, pizza base (with toppings) and of course they regularly make playdough for the nursery.
Next step, children are making flatbread and playdough with independence: reading the recipe and mixing the ingredients without adult support, only needing help with the cooking part.
Let us know what you cook at home with your child! Involve them in the whole experience.

Block Play at Children's House with the V&A

We were so lucky last week to enjoy a whole day's exploration with Kirsty from the Victoria & Albert's Museum of Childhood.
We know children need extended access to experiences so they can explore, return to and master them. 
Block play is part of our ongoing provision at Children's House but Kirsty brought some resources which further extended the experience and enthralled the children and adults.
Children were introduced to the resources which included building some Imagination Playground blue blocks, a range of fabrics, foil blankets and small balls. 
Children were encouraged to handle and explore the resources: Kirsty gave us a few inspirational ideas, showing us what we might like to do but children were given freedom to play.
It was very exciting and interesting to see what children did, how they negotiated and the exuberance with which they played.
Some children worked in teams building and creating 3D sculptures. Some began to develop a narrative in their play. Adults sensitively joined children in their play and did not lead the play.
Please read below some of the benefits of Block Play with children.
Also keep in touch with the Museum of Childhood: although they are currently closed for exciting redevelopments, they may be out on the road this summer:
https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/young

Why Block Play?

• When free to experiment with the simplest materials, children find ways to express and develop thoughts in imaginative play.
• Block play offers an open-ended, creative and valuable play and learning experience available to every setting.
• It offers children freedom – to explore, take apart and put back together any block-based creation they can think of.
• There are a host of benefits to be gained from this activity.

Some of the Benefits of Block Play

• Imagination – Through block play children are free to follow their own ideas as they embark on a voyage of discovery or share in the development of their friends’ creations.
• Self-expression – Children are able to express themselves through their play, creations and discoveries, a form of communication that’s particularly valuable for bilingual or non-verbal children.
• Problem-solving – Blocks offer a great platform to develop problem-solving and reasoning skills. This can be deliberate, with children consciously working to develop a solution, or as a natural consequence of play, as they learn first-hand what does and what doesn’t work

​Observing Block Play

• Are the children having and following their own ideas? Are they choosing and exploring their own ways of doing things?
• Are the children willing to have a go and take risks in their block play? Do they keep trying if things don’t work?
• Are the children involved? Are they concentrating on what they want to achieve?
• Are the children enjoying their play and discoveries? Do they enjoy achieving what they set out to do? By scaffolding ideas using open-ended questions or making ‘I wonder’ and ‘I notice’ comments to children, block play becomes an exciting environment in which practitioners can develop a deeper understanding of a child’s world

Eid Mubarak!

At Children's House we love a celebration with our school community.
Today we celebrated Eid together with our children.
Many children and staff came to school dressed in special party clothes: it was a feast for the eyes. 
Children shared lots of talk and communicated whether they had celebrated with their families.
Some children had been to mosque, they wore special clothes and shared special food.
Some people gave each other gifts too.
"We gave Eid hugs"
"We eat yummy food"
"I did mendhi on my hands"
"We visit family"
"I wake up and have a bath" 
"I am wearing my new Eid clothes"
"We go to the mosque"
"We give each other Eid presents"
At school we enjoyed an Eid Party, by singing and signing some special Eid songs, sharing some drawings children had done and dancing our socks off!
We shared some party food and had a joyful time. 
Eid Mubarak to all our families and friends from your Children's House family!
More photographs to follow!

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