Welcome back after the holidays, and happy new 2026!
It has been such a joy to see all the children return so settled, happy, and ready to learn. Our new starters have settled in wonderfully too , they have already formed lovely friendships and are confidently joining in with our classroom routines, making them a valued part of the team.
This week began with a very exciting adventure in our classroom! We worked together to build a cosy cave to keep the wild animals from our forest warm during winter. The children then went on a winter walk, collecting sticks and feathers to help the animals build their own den in the cave. To our surprise, when we returned to the classroom on Tuesday morning, we discovered a nest inside the cave with two huge eggs inside!
The children thought carefully about which animal might have laid the eggs. Their imaginative ideas included a unicorn, a dinosaur, a robin, and even a bat. We then discussed how best to look after the eggs, and the children thoughtfully decided that the most important thing was not to touch them and to stay very quiet so the babies inside would not be scared. Such kind and caring ideas were shared.
This curiosity led us to research animals that lay eggs. We discovered that animals with fur or hair usually grow their babies in their bellies (with the fascinating exceptions of the platypus and echidna!), while insects and animals with feathers, scales, hard outer shells, or slimy skin lay eggs. The children were completely captivated by this learning.
They were also fascinated by the skeleton parts they discovered in the classroom and loved working together to build a triceratops by fitting the bones together. 🦖
In maths, we continued exploring numbers 1–5, practising accurate counting, writing numerals, and matching numerals to the correct number of objects. The children showed great enthusiasm and growing confidence.
Our imaginative play has been a highlight this week. The children enjoyed role-playing in the cave and exploring different textures in the swamp tuff tray, creating their own stories and narratives through play.
How you can help at home:
Talk about animals that lay eggs and those that don’t. You could look at books, watch short animal clips, or even draw pictures of animals and sort them into “lays eggs” and “doesn’t lay eggs.
Practise counting objects around the house: toys, steps, spoons, or pieces of fruit, focusing on numbers 1–5. Encourage your child to match the number to the correct amount
Build a cosy den using blankets, cushions, or boxes. Encourage your child to imagine who lives inside and make up a story together, helping to develop creativity, language and confidence.
Thank you for your continued support, we are looking forward to another exciting week of learning and discovery together!
Have a lovely weekend,
The Nursery Team xx