There was delight for children and colleagues at Hertford Barns Day Nursery as they welcomed a group of lambs and ewes to the setting for a special six-week stay.
At the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Day Nursery on Cole Green, children of all ages were thrilled to meet the adorable new arrivals, which include two ewes and two lambs, who are settling in nicely to life in the luscious fields that surround the stunning barn conversion and stable block, with daily care and attention given by pre-schoolers as part of their activities.
The much-loved annual project has become a spring tradition at the nursery over recent years and continues to create lasting memories for the children while supporting their learning and development. The sheep have quickly become part of nursery life, with youngsters proudly naming them Barry, Baaarbara, Topsy and Tim.
To extend the learning beyond the nursery, the Hertford Barns team also created a special sheep-themed display and home learning bags for families to enjoy. These included sheep craft activities, fun facts and information and a nature-themed tick list to encourage children and parents to explore the great outdoors and seasonal changes together.
Hertford Barns Deputy Manager, Hatty Gouldstone explained;
“The children have been captivated by the sheep during their stay with us and it has created so many wonderful learning opportunities across the nursery. From hand feeding the sheep and discussing their diets, to using them as inspiration for arts and crafts sessions and learning about the process of shearing, there have been exciting learning opportunities at every turn. Projects like this help children develop a real connection with nature and animals while encouraging curiosity, responsibility and creativity.”
The animal activities add a valuable new element to the nursery’s Eco-Schools curriculum, linking to key focus areas including biodiversity, for which Hertford Barns have earnt a prestigious ‘Green Flag’, the highest accolade in the international programme which is awarded for exceptional environmental conservation and awareness practices.
At Hertford Barns, children take part in sustainable activities all year round as part of the scheme, from planting and growing herbs and vegetables which are then used in meals by talented Nursery Chefs, to crafting with natural and recycled materials.
