Gnomes given a home at Grasshoppers Day Nursery

Children from Grasshoppers Day Nursery in St Albans have been practicing their writing and communication skills, all with the help of some special gnomes in the garden outside.

In order to build literary skills in preparation for their next steps in education and instil confidence for the journey ahead, children from the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Day Nursery on York Road have been writing to the gnomes about their transition to school, penning any worries or questions they may have, before posting the letters to the garden.

Following the writing session, pre-schoolers were delighted to receive individual replies from the gnomes, re-assuring them of any concerns, as well as the gift of a ‘paint your own garden gnome’ each which they could take home to showcase their creativity.

Grasshoppers Day Nursery Manager, Jenny Pratt explained;

“The gnome writing initiative has been such a success amongst the children and this has been beneficial in so many ways. Not only has this been hugely exciting for the group, but has been a great outlet for them to express their feelings, all whilst practicing their mark making and building fine and gross motor skills in readiness for school.”