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InstagramHere’s a small snapshot of some of the incredible mark making and explorations with colour , observed today. So many lovely examples of children using pens and mixed media to explore with blocks of colour , continuous lines and just experimenting with different ,marks they could make. One of my favourites is the continuous blue line . This was a boy I’d never seen mark make before and he was totally immersed in the process of what he was creating. Another is the amazing jungle picture from a child who we often hear say “I can’t do it “ or “I don’t know” when asked if she’d like to tell us something about what she’s made. Today she spent almost an hour creating her jungle. Starting with a crocodile before painting it green with a toothbrush. She continued to add animals and independently came to show me and tell me with pride about each one, which I scribed as she described their detail. It was wonderful to see her beaming with pride and her new found confidence in her own wonderful drawings. #barnetearlyyearsalliance #keepingitreal #community #maintainednurseryschools #psed #personalsocialemotionaldevelopment #finemotor #eyfsmarkmaking #eyfsdrawing
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InstagramWe’ve seen of excitement and high levels of interest generated by tadpoles we’ve brought inside to sapphire room this week. Lots of talk about “the fish” has initiated discussions about how the tadpoles will change as they grow in to frogs. Learning about life cycles and the transformational process of metamorphosis . Magnifying glasses were used to try and see which ones might have small back legs already . Sharpening our observational skills. Some amazing observational drawings were produced as children sat and watched them in the tank. We’ve also begun planting seeds to grow vegetables. So we can continue observing the changes as they begin to sprout shoots and grow leaves. Developing our understanding of the life cycle from seed to fruit/vegetable and what plants need to grow and how to look after them . So far we have planted sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes ,lettuce, salad leaves, mustard and cress. Developing our indoor growing area on the windowsill , until they are ready to be planted outside. #eyfs #nursery #earlyyearsoutdoors #keepingitreal #earlylearning #barnetearlyyearsalliance #earlyyearsoutdoors #theirplaytheirway #maintainednurseryschools #eyfsoutdoors #forestschoolideas #knowledgeandunderstandingoftheworld #eyfsgrowing #frogs
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InstagramReposting yesterdays post because a glitch omitted half of the pictures . We’ve seen of excitement and high levels of interest generated by tadpoles we’ve brought inside to sapphire room this week. Lots of talk about “the fish” has initiated discussions about how the tadpoles will change as they grow in to frogs. Learning about life cycles and the transformational process of metamorphosis . Magnifying glasses were used to try and see which ones might have small back legs already . Sharpening our observational skills. Some amazing observational drawings were produced as children sat and watched them in the tank. We’ve also begun planting seeds to grow vegetables. So we can continue observing the changes as they begin to sprout shoots and grow leaves. Developing our understanding of the life cycle from seed to fruit/vegetable and what plants need to grow and how to look after them . So far we have planted sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes ,lettuce, salad leaves, mustard and cress. Developing our indoor growing area on the windowsill , until they are ready to be planted outside. #eyfs #nursery #earlyyearsoutdoors #keepingitreal #earlylearning #barnetearlyyearsalliance #earlyyearsoutdoors #theirplaytheirway #maintainednurseryschools #eyfsoutdoors #forestschoolideas #knowledgeandunderstandingoftheworld #eyfsgrowing #frogs
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InstagramAnother wonderful wild day was had today at nursery . This is when we open up the gate connecting the front and back gardens and all children are given the freedom and opportunity to explore both independently. Last nights rain left muddy puddles to be enjoyed and splashed in. Children hunted the garden for bugs and “wiggly worms”, built dens and used natural resources to create patterns in the sandy playdough . We saw some great team work unfold as a group of boys worked really well together and did a fabulous job of cleaning the windows. Working on both fine and gross motor skills in the process. #eyfs #nursery #earlyyearsoutdoors #keepingitreal #earlylearning #barnetearlyyearsalliance #outdoorplay #earlyyearsoutdoors #maintainednurseryschools #eyfsoutdoors #forestschoolideas #eyfsfinemotor #physicaldevelopment #mudkitchen
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InstagramOur children created a wonderful piece of transient art today! Given the freedom to select loose parts and other resources, they all worked harmoniously together to fill the whole carpet space. Lots of children dipped in and out adding items. And at the end of the day we worked together to find where everything belongs! #transientart #loosepartsplay #hampdenwaynursery #barnetearlyyearsalliance
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InstagramThank you for supporting our ‘Huff & Puff! This is our main fundraiser of the year and is a great opportunity not only to raise some funds for the nursery but also to promote getting active and having a healthy lifestyle. It was wonderful to see so many smiley faces and rosy cheeks as staff and children ran, stepped, jumped and danced, finishing off with the parachute and a Hokey Cokey. Well done everyone! . #nurseryschool #maintainednurseryschools #physicaldeveloment #activelifestyle #nurserycommunity #nurseryfundraiser #barnetearlyyearsalliance #eyfs #eyfsfundraiser
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InstagramThis week we have begun the process of developing a new role play area outside. ‘The garden cafe’ . It’s away from the mud kitchen/ exploration station , which invites lots of mixing and concocting and can frequently become very messy and wet. This often means this area can become dominated by children who love this type of messy, exploratory play, using natural resources. Leaving children who are not so comfortable getting their hands messy or wet ,avoidant of exploring the natural resources on offer there. Today the garden cafe was set up as a ‘woodland cafe’ . Offering a variety of dry textures and natural resources to experiment with . It was lovely to see different groups of children playing here throughout the day. Children who may not often be seen engaging in role play/ imaginative play outside using natural resources were making hot chocolate , selling ice creams and coking dinner for each other. Herbs from the garden were picked , cut and used as money in the till,to make soup and added to cups of tea. And at the end of the day all resources were stored ready for another day. #eyfs #nursery #earlyyearsoutdoors #keepingitreal #earlylearning #barnetearlyyearsalliance #outdoorplay #earlyyearsoutdoors #maintainednurseryschools #eyfsoutdoors #forestschoolideas #loosepartsplay #finemotor #outsideroleplay #eyfsmaths #mathsoutdoors #psed
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InstagramToday it felt like summer may be finally on its way. We enjoyed anther wild day in the sunshine with everyone playing outside together for the whole day . The front garden is a much greener space than the back and offers so many more possibilities than the back garden brings . The energy is always quite high when children first come outside but then it settles and it always feels like a much calmer space. This enables children to connect in different ways , to each other and their environment and to take things a little slower. Children nestled in the long grass , to sit and observe their friends. They enjoyed looking for insects and slugs amongst the grass.New friendships were formed and it was lovely to see children helping each other and sharing their discoveries and achievement’s with each other. And celebrating what they could do, both with and without help. Despite the glorious sunshine , a muddy puddle is always enjoyed . Children worked together to transport water to a place where one child had discovered it was settling . This built much excitement as the puddle got bigger as well as the splashes. Giant bubbles were created as children mastered the art of using old baking tins to create bubbles in the sunshine. So much learning to be seen and much to be had . #eyfs #nursery #earlyyearsoutdoors #keepingitreal #earlylearning #barnetearlyyearsalliance #outdoorplay #earlyyearsoutdoors #maintainednurseryschools #eyfsoutdoors #forestschoolideas
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InstagramSnails are always a big interest to our children at this time of year. We have been enjoying looking for them in the garden and then observing them more closely inside. We’ve been learning new vocabulary to describe and name different parts of the snails and how they move . Comparing different sizes and noticing different patterns on the shells . Some wonderful snails were created independently with pens, paints and 3D ones out of card. So much learning involved through one tiny creature ,that’s often considered a pest in the garden. Including language &communication, maths , physical, psed and Knowledge and understanding of the world. All whilst fostering and a sense of curiosity and awe and wonder in the natural world and how we need to look after it. #barnetearlyyearsalliance #keepingitreal #community #maintainednurseryschools #psed #personalsocialemotionaldevelopment #eyfsoutdoors #snails #knowledgeandunderstandingtheworld #spirals #eyfsmaths
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InstagramOn Friday we harvested the mustard and cress seeds we had sewn last week. The children enjoyed making cheese and cress / mustard sandwiches independently . Developing fine motor and self help skills as they prepared the sandwiches and washed up, after having a picnic on the carpet in Sapphire room . #eyfs #nursery #keepingitreal #earlylearning #barnetearlyyearsalliance #maintainednurseryschools #eyfsfinemotor #physicaldevelopment #eyfsgrowing
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InstagramAlongside observations of snails, we have been looking at the works of the artist Henri Matisse. With a particular focus on his collage ‘The snail’. We’ve read the stories ‘Matisse’s magical trail’ and ‘Snail trail’. This has inspired lots of wonderful mark making and collage to create independent works of art. #eyfs #nursery #earlyyears #earlylearning #barnetearlyyearsalliance #maintainednurseryschools #theirplaytheirway #expressiveartsanddesign #henrimatisse #thesnail #collagewithkids #processart #inspiredbymatisse #eyfsart #eyfsmarkmaking
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InstagramThank you so much for supporting our ‘Huff & Puff! This event is a great opportunity not only to raise some funds for the nursery but also to promote getting active and having a healthy lifestyle. Here are our two year olds having lots of fun as they took part in our ‘huff and puff’ activities. • #nurseryschool #maintainednurseryschools #physicaldeveloment #activelifestyle #nurserycommunity #nurseryfundraiser #barnetearlyyearsalliance #eyfs #eyfsfundraiser