20th Dec 2018

6th Feb 2019
Montessori in Action
What have the children been doing?
Year Round Options are for a complete year except for short breaks in the autumn term, spring term, and summer term. The nursery is shut during these times.
Fees are due in advance. Fees for the full term is due before the first day of the term. If paying in installments, fees are due by standing order on the first day of the month, and these will be taken in ten monthly instalments. We accept most childcare vouchers for part payment of fees. Nursery Education Grant for 3 and 4-year-old children who qualify is deducted from fees.
Healthy and nutritious meals are freshly prepared on site by our in-house chef. We encourage children to try food from different parts of the world in recognition of the diverse backgrounds of families within the nursery. Parents are encouraged to contribute recipe ideas for our menu. With obesity in the UK reaching epidemic levels, we strive to keep our meals low in saturated fat and sugar. Research evidence shows that a diet low in fat, sugar, and animal protein is more beneficial to good health. The children prepare fresh fruits and vegetables daily, and these is available throughout the day, with filtered drinking water.
Ideally children have their breakfast at home, but for families for whom this is not an option, we serve a healthy breakfast of cereals or porridge with fruit.
Lunch is freshly prepared on the premises by our Chef, Mr Yanapo. The meals we serve are a balanced mix of tasty dishes which vary every week. The fruit and vegetables are all supplied by John, our local greengrocer. Our meat and fish are also sourced locally. Children’s dietary requirements are taken into account to ensure those with allergies, special religious requirements, or special restricted diets such as vegan, vegetarian and Halal are given alternative options.
We ensure that children have small, regular healthy snacks and the recommended five a day fruit and vegetables. The children help to prepare the snacks which are available throughout the day with fresh drinking water and milk. Examples of snacks include fruit and vegetables with guacamole, rice cakes, hummus and pitta bread.
Children enjoy food made by our chef including what they have prepared during the afternoon. This can vary hugely but is always a healthy mix of fruit, salads and sandwiches of their choosing. This is a light meal leaving lots of room for supper when children get home.
We keep our routines flexible, and nothing is rigidly timetabled, allowing the adults to take their cues from the children by following their interest regarding what to do, when and where.
A daily greeting between teachers and children is a special moment and a key transition of the day which sets the tone for the day ahead. This is followed by breakfast for those who haven’t eaten at home. They are assisted as necessary to make a choice and serve themselves. Tidying up breakfast is part of the work cycle, and children have the choice to work alone; to work collaboratively with a friend, or to join a small adult led group. The children are taken on regular outings to the parks, and feeding ducks is one activity several of the infants enjoy. Throughout the nursery, children work inside, and sometimes outside, depending on individual interest and needs. Working outside helps some children to become more positively engaged by releasing restless energy offered by physical activities the outdoors affords them.
Preparation for lunch usually starts at 11:30 in the Nido, and about 12:00pm in the Infant Community and Children’s House. Eating lunch is the perfect opportunity to reinforce the importance of good manners and it is a special time of the day. In all the classes, the teachers and children recite a short poem of gratitude for the meal they share. The children participate in setting up the lunch and clearing up afterwards every day. After lunch, the children spend time playing in the garden and those who require a nap will be taken to the nap room for a rest. Children are not forced to sleep, and if they do not wish to sleep, they are given the freedom to play outside. The children usually play outside for about an hour jumping, playing in the sand, watering the garden, blowing bubbles, pulling one another in a wagon, drawing with chalk, painting, engaging in role play and having fun exploring a range of activities and materials.
Children in the Nido have their own self-contained sleeping area in their room, and the children who are awake are taken to the playroom or outside in their safe and cozy garden for more exploration. For the Infant Community and Children’s House, the afternoon work cycle usually starts around 2:15pm to 3:50pm. The children spend most of the afternoons practicing and developing self-care skills such as brushing hair, teeth and washing their faces. They also contribute towards food preparation such as baking bread and pizzas as well as soup, salads and other healthy meals which contribute towards their tea. This is also a time when older children practice their reading and writing skills.
Afternoon tea in the Nido usually starts at 3:30pm, and and in the Infant Community and Children’s House tea is at 4:00pm. A number of children finish their session at nursery at 4:00pm. After 4:30pm the children staying the full day help with tidying up tea, and they then continue their exploration and play outside in the garden. The children are taken on outings to local parks and playgrounds. The daily farewell is a nice way to bring closure to the day. Parents receive daily feedback before the children are greeted and signed out. The signing out sheet is an easy attendance reference for the teachers to keep track of a changing headcount as the children leave. The nursery shuts at 6:00pm.
Wednesday 6th January
We welcome the old and new families back to Living Spring
Monday 25th January
The children learn about the Scottish poet Robbie Burns.
Friday 12th February
The children will discover the traditions and celebrate the year of the ox.
Sunday 14th February
We celebrate with the ones we love.
Tuesday 16th February
It’s Pancake Day! The children will make pancakes to learn about and mark the beginning of Lent.
Monday 1st March
Today we will celebrate and learn about the patron saint of Wales.
Thursday 4th March
The children will dress up as their favourite characters and read their favourite stories.
Sunday 14th March
A day to celebrate our wonderful mums.
Wednesday 17th March
Today we will celebrate and learn about the patron saint of Ireland.
Friday 19th March
The children will dress up to celebrate Red Nose Day!
Sunday 4th April
The children learn about Easter and celebrate everything spring.
Friday 23rd April
Today we celebrate and learn about the patron saint of England.
Tuesday 12th May – Wednesday 13th May
The children learn about and celebrate Ramadan.
Sunday 20th June
A day to celebrate the wonderful fathers at Living Spring.
Monday 19th July – Friday 13th August
The children celebrate everything summer.
Term Starts: Friday 4th September 2020
Half Term: No Half Term Break
Term Ends: Friday 18th December 2020
Christmas holidays: Monday 21st December 2020 – Friday 1st January 2021
Inset Days: Tuesday 1st September, Wednesday 2nd September & Thursday 3rd September 2020
Term Starts: Wednesday 6th January 2021
Half Term: No Half Term Break
Term Ends: Friday 30th April 2021
Spring Holidays: Monday 5th April 2021 to Friday 16th April 2021
Inset Days: Monday 4th January & Tuesday 5th January 2021
Term Starts: Wednesday 5th May 2021
Half Term: No Half Term Break
Term Ends: Friday 13th August 2021
Inset Day: Tuesday 4th May 2021
Saturday 12th December 2020
Saturday 21st November 2020
Saturday 24th April 2021
Friday 16th July 2021 (NB: No school in session)
We aim to promote the well-being of the children in our care and to nurture intelligence, curiosity, and imagination while supporting and developing each child’s unique talents. Our ultimate mission is to prepare the children in our care for life. We hold 3 formal parent teacher meetings 3 times a year; one in each term. Parents are given regular feedback about their child’s progress and development, and every child is assigned a key person, who is the main link between the home and the nursery. Parents are invited to observe their children regularly and to participate in the life of the nursery by coming in to read books, share their experiences and participate in celebrations and contribute to their child’s learning and development throughout the year.
6th Feb 2019
What have the children been doing?