January 2022

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Lessons in road safety at Cedar Park Day Nursery

Children from Cedar Park Day Nursery in Twyford have been learning all about road safety, having been inspired by the life story of renowned artist, Frida Kahlo.

After discovering that Kahlo had been in a traffic accident as a young adult, pre-schoolers from the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Day Nursery on Bridge Farm Road were intrigued to learn more about the subject and how to keep themselves safe.

From practicing ‘crossing the road’ in the nursery car park to finding out more about the role of a lollypop person, children were immersed in practical activities which helped to reinforce the importance of staying alert when out and about.

Cedar Park Day Nursery Manager, Rachael Main explained;

“We are always keen to follow the children’s interests in nursery and this is a topic which they have particularly enjoyed. This has not only provided an excellent opportunity to refresh our existing knowledge, but practice the Green Cross Code and discuss why we should hold hands and wear reflective clothing where possible.”

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Green Park Day Nursery colleagues banish the Monday blues

Despite being labelled the ‘the gloomiest day of the year’, there were smiles all round at Green Park Day Nursery in Reading as colleagues enjoyed a series of ‘Blue Monday’ themed wellbeing celebrations at the setting.

At the award-winning day nursery on South Oak Way, staff dressed in their brightest clothes for the occasion and were delighted to be greeted by a spread of homemade breakfast rolls as they made their way into work, proving to be the perfect antidote to the Monday blues, courtesy of their grateful management team.

The latest celebration in nursery follows a ‘Dividend Payment Day’ earlier in the month when hardworking colleagues picked up a tax-free share of up to £1,500 each, recognising them all as employee-owners of Childbase Partnership, which has a total of 45 early years settings across England.

Green Park Day Nursery Deputy Manager, Grace Critcher explained;

“The Blue Monday festivities were a great success and provided another lovely morale boost to our very deserving colleagues. We feel so lucky to work with such a passionate team who continue to deliver exceptional childcare every single day and believe it’s more important than ever to showcase this gratitude.”

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Blue Monday boost at Windmill Hill Day Nursery

Despite being known as the ‘gloomiest day of the year’, colleagues from Windmill Hill Day Nursery in Swindon were determined not to let ‘Blue Monday’ dampen their spirits as they enjoyed a series of wellbeing themed celebrations across the setting.

At the award-winning day nursery on Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, children and staff dressed in their brightest clothing and embarked on a series of feel-good activities, from rainbow pasta play and colour mixing, to creating biscuits and making birdhouses to encourage wildlife into the garden for all to admire.

Meanwhile, devoted colleagues were able to enjoy a table of blue themed treats on their breaks courtesy of their grateful managers, complete with handmade frosted cupcakes, lollies and a selection of sweets as the perfect antidote to Monday blues.

Windmill Hill Day Nursery Manager, Lora Worthington explained;

“There are no Blue Monday’s here at Windmill Hill as the team always create endless opportunities for fun and learning and the children bring so much joy. Wellbeing is more important than ever and being able to put a smile on everyone’s faces really means a lot in these challenging times, we had a brilliant day.”

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Celebrating Lohri at Knowle Green Day Nursery

Festivities were well underway at Knowle Green Day Nursery in Staines as children and colleagues joined millions worldwide in celebrating the festival of Lohri.

One of the most significant events in the Punjabi calendar, the festival marks the end of winter and the onset of spring, and was honoured at the award-winning setting on Knowle Green with a series of exciting activities. Children were also delighted to be joined by nursery parent, Amrit, who imparted her expert knowledge on the festival.

From dancing to traditional music and playing games to carrying out the custom of throwing ‘sweets’ on the fire as a goodwill offering for the season ahead, the group embraced all that the occasion had to offer, before enjoying a special lunch of homemade curry and samosas.

Knowle Green Day Nursery Manager, Jen Ralphs explained;

“We love to mark a range of different events throughout the year to give children a wider understanding of the world around them and celebrate the diversity within our local community. It was wonderful to have one of our nursery families come in and share such an important part of their culture with us, we had a fantastic time.”

Lohri is celebrated all around the world every January 13^th.

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Mayor of Milton Keynes officially opens Hampstead Gate Day Nursery

Exactly one year on since welcoming its very first cohort of children, families and colleagues from Hampstead Gate Day Nursery in Milton Keynes were delighted as local Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Khan officially opened the setting in a special ceremony.

Having been postponed due to ongoing Covid restrictions, the long-awaited celebrations saw the Mayor unveil a commemorative plaque and cut a bespoke cake at the 97 place setting on Eelbrook Avenue, which is part of the employee-owned Childbase Partnership with 45 day nurseries in the South of England, following a visit in the summer to plant a tree.

Complete with imaginative play and learning spaces, state of the art equipment and immersive role play areas, the Mayor praised the resources on offer to children aged between six weeks and five years, as well as the eco-friendly practices which have resulted in Hampstead Gate earning a prestigious ‘Green Flag’ award from Eco-Schools.

From babies using recycled paper from the shredder for sensory activities, to older children creating bug hotels for insect observations and growing vegetables in the garden which are then used in meals by talented Nursery Chefs, children of all ages take part in a curriculum of eco-activities the whole year round whilst learning key educational messages.

Hampstead Gate Day Nursery Manager, Elkie Taylor, who has over 20 years’ experience in the Early Years sector and previously managed another Childbase setting, explained;

“Respecting and protecting the environment is an important part of our commitment to give our children the best possible future. We are preparing happy and confident children for a smooth transition to mainstream schooling and, equally important, for their roles and responsibilities in a much wider world”.

Meanwhile, new technologies have been harnessed in both the equipment and toys available to the children like the ‘Mantra Lingua’ systems which makes books, posters, stickers and cards in nursery ‘talk’, with the aid of special stickers and ‘pens’, to effectively support children with English as a second language and help introduce this to others.

Like all Childbase Partnership settings, Hampstead Gate Day Nursery is powered by Green Electricity from falling water, the sun, the wind and organic waste material and diverts all nappy waste away from landfill. The waste is collected and sorted off site, with non-recyclable elements used in energy processes to power hospitals or boost the National Grid.

“We have had the most wonderful year and are absolutely delighted to be able to offer such rich learning experiences to the children in our care. Our beautiful play spaces inspire creativity and curiosity both indoors and out, and our devoted staff team provide endless opportunities for fun and learning. We marked the special occasion with fancy dress, and are so grateful to the Mayor for taking the time to support us”, added Elkie.

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Knowle Green Day Nursery scoop healthy eating award

There was cause for celebration at Knowle Green Day Nursery in Staines as delighted colleagues and children received an ‘Eat Well, Start Well’ award, following a new scheme developed by Surrey Public Health.

The accolade, which has been awarded to the Knowle Green nursery, celebrates local Early Years Settings that provide healthy and nutritious meals to the children in their care. For the setting, this includes the use of ethically sourced ingredients; including the children’s home-grown produce and salt and sugar-free food, as well as the use of suppliers committed to environmentally friendly and ethical production.

Teachings at Knowle Green also emphasise the importance of healthy eating and lifestyles, with colourful displays in each age-appropriate room to support these messages, as well as daily activities which include celebrating diversity in marking cultural festivals with traditional ingredients and growing herbs and vegetables in the garden outside, where children also learn key maths, science and conservation skills.

Knowle Green Day Nursery Manager, Jen Ralphs explained;

“We are absolutely thrilled to have received this award and I couldn’t be prouder of my colleagues who have made this happen, especially our talented Nursery Chef, Carol Nevitt and Team Leader, Hannah Willis who carried out the awards consultation. We have amazing feedback from our parents, who are always welcome to approach us with tips and advice for healthy eating at home, and it’s wonderful to know how much the children are enjoying the meals they are served.”

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Local dentists visit Green Park Day Nursery

There were learning opportunities at every turn for children at Green Park Day Nursery in Reading as they enjoyed a visit from local dentists.

At the award-winning setting on South Oak Way, the over two’s were captivated as they learnt about the importance of good oral hygiene from experts at nearby Olive Tree Dental on Green Park Business Park, who arranged a series of exciting activities including quizzes and a teeth brushing masterclass with chance to practice.

To aid learning, children listened to songs about brushing and were delighted to receive a goody bag at the end of the visit, filled with helpful resources with information and ideas, as well as a toothbrush, toothpaste, stickers and treats.

In the New Year, Green Park families will also have the opportunity to visit Olive Tree Dental for further support and advice in engaging children in the subject.

Green Park Day Nursery Team Leader, Grace Critcher explained;

“The children had a brilliant time with the dentists and we are so grateful to them for taking time out of their busy schedules to impart their wisdom on this important topic. We aim to make these experiences fun and memorable for the children to ensure they have a lasting impact and help them to make healthy choices for the future.”

Month: January 2022

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Lessons in road safety at Cedar Park Day Nursery

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Green Park Day Nursery colleagues banish the Monday blues

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Blue Monday boost at Windmill Hill Day Nursery

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Celebrating Lohri at Knowle Green Day Nursery

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Mayor of Milton Keynes officially opens Hampstead Gate Day Nursery

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Knowle Green Day Nursery scoop healthy eating award

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Local dentists visit Green Park Day Nursery

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Cedars Day Nursery - Leighton Buzzard