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Westminster School Highlights: March 21st
Reminders
- Please remember to trim your little one’s nails regularly to help keep them safe and comfortable as they explore and play.
- Good Friday (18th April 2025): This is a Bank holiday, and the nursery will be closed.
- Half-Term Break: From 7th April 2025 to 21st April 2025 (for children on term-time, fully funded)
- Inset Day: On Tuesday 22nd April 2025 – the nursery will be closed for staff training
Babies at Westminster Nursery
Modern Language and Communication
This week, the babies had a wonderful time exploring new sounds and words. We introduced animal noises and actions to support their vocabulary development. The babies loved mimicking the sounds of animals such as “moo,” “baa,” and “woof” as we played with animal toys and read interactive books. This not only expanded their word bank but also helped them link sounds to meanings, aiding their understanding of language. We also encouraged simple verbal exchanges and gestures, allowing the babies to practice basic communication with their peers and caregivers.
Spring - 春天 (Chūntiān) Flower - 花 (Huā) Animal - 动物 (Dòngwù) Bird - 鸟 (Niǎo) Bunny - 兔子 (Tùzǐ) Green - 绿色 (Lǜsè) Leaves - 叶子 (Yèzi) Springtime - 春季 (Chūnjì)
Festival of the Week & Exploring Culture
This week, the babies celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by engaging in a creative activity where they decorated flowers using green tissue paper. This activity allowed them to explore colours and textures while developing their fine motor skills. In addition, we introduced St. Joseph’s Day with a sensory tray set up in the garden. The babies interacted with various materials and animal figures, which sparked their curiosity and provided an opportunity to name the animals, further enhancing their cognitive and language development.
Outdoor Play & Excursions
This week, the babies have really enjoyed the lovely spring weather as we spent lots of time outdoors. They loved feeling the warm sun on their faces and watching the leaves rustle in the breeze. They were especially interested in the flowers blooming in the garden, where they enjoyed looking at the bright petals, touching the soft leaves, and even smelling the flowers.
During our outdoor trips, the babies enjoyed strolling in the fresh air and taking in the sights and sounds around them. They had fun spotting trees, waving at people passing by, and watching cars and buses go by. The babies also went to the market this week, where they saw different fruits and pointed at apples, bananas, and oranges. This helped with their language development as they began to recognise and name things in their environment.
In the garden, the babies had a chance to explore a mini car wash set-up, where they used sponges and water to wash toy cars. This activity allowed them to engage in imaginative play, supporting their creativity and helping them to develop problem-solving skills. We also played a simple game of hide and seek, which helped the babies understand the idea of object permanence and gave them a chance to enjoy playing with their friends.
One of the highlights of the week was our exciting trip to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The babies were amazed by the large clock face of Big Ben and the grand buildings around them. They also saw the police guards and had fun waving at them, creating a special moment for the babies to interact with an important part of London’s history..jpg?width=339&height=311&name=IMG_4637%20(1).jpg)
Toddlers
Modern Languages and Communication
This week, we introduced new vocabulary related to spring and the creatures of the season. The children learned words such as ladybug, butterfly, bee, and worm, using both verbal communication and simple signs to reinforce their understanding. By associating signs with these words, the children are improving their communication skills and gaining the confidence to express themselves in different ways. Along with this, we incorporated Mandarin words for some of the creatures, such as ladybug (Huǐ sè qiāo, 灰色瓢虫) and butterfly (Huǐ sè húdié, 灰色蝴蝶),
Regional Education
In line with our Northern Europe theme, we explored the unique plants and flowers found in this region. We talked about how different climates and seasons in Northern Europe influence the types of flowers that grow, and how insects, especially bees, play a vital role in pollination. The children learned how nature in Northern Europe is very different from other regions, with a focus on the spring blooms. As part of this exploration, we also engaged in a flower-shaped bread-making activity, where children explored regional foods from Northern Europe, helping them connect with local traditions and the cultural significance of food.
Outdoor Play
This week, the children had a wonderful time on their trip to Causton Park. They loved playing on the swings and climbing the climbing frames, enjoying the fresh air and developing their balance and coordination. They also had lots of fun in the sandpit, where they built castles and dug in the sand, using their hands and toys to explore and create.
Back at the nursery, the children continued their outdoor fun in the garden. They explored the sensory tray, feeling different textures like sand, water, and soft materials, while developing their fine motor skills. To celebrate St. Joseph’s Day, the children enjoyed a fun activity where they decorated small ‘flowers’ and arranged them into a display, tying into the tradition of honoring St. Joseph with symbols of growth and new life.
Mandarin Colour Fun
This week, the children learned colours in Mandarin through a fun song! They practised basic colour names while singing along to help remember them. One activity they enjoy is sorting coloured balls into matching boxes. This helps them recognise colours in both Mandarin and English, while also developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive abilities. It encourages problem-solving and supports their understanding of categorisation.
Colours in Mandarin:
- Red: Hóngsè (红色)
- Yellow: Huángsè (黄色)
- Blue: Lánsè (蓝色)
- Green: Lǜsè (绿色)
- Black: Hēisè (黑色)
- White: Báisè (白色)
The children had a blast identifying and sorting colours, while learning new Mandarin words!
Recapping the Sound of 't' and 'i'
In our phonics session this week, we recapped the letters t and i using the Jolly Phonics songs to help the children remember the sounds. The children loved singing the songs and doing the accompanying actions, which made learning fun and interactive. We focused on words like "tiger" for t and "ink" for i.
Early Number and Shape Recognition
This week, the Blue Dragons had a great time exploring patterns with coloured blocks and shapes. They enjoyed creating simple patterns like red-blue-red-blue, which helped them spot repetition and understand sequencing. As they recognised and made their own patterns, they started to get the idea that things can follow a certain order. It was a fun way for them to start thinking about numbers and how we can predict what comes next!
Creative Play with Birds nests
This week, the children use playdough to create birds' nests. They explore rolling, shaping, and moulding the dough, which helps develop their fine motor skills. The activity encourages creativity as they make different shapes and experiment with textures. They also learn about the birds they see in our garden, such as pigeons, and talk about where birds live and what their nests look like. It’s a fun and educational way to link hands-on play with learning about nature.
Preschoolers
Modern Languages and Communication
This week, the children continued to expand their vocabulary, focusing on words related to spring and nature. They learn words like bird (鸟, niǎo), flower (花, huā), and tree (树, shù). The children enjoy using flashcards with pictures to help them connect the words with their meanings.
A Trip to the Local Shop
This week, the children go on an exciting outing to a local shop where they learn about prices and shopping. They discover that some items cost more than others, like an apple costing one coin (苹果, píngguǒ) and a banana costing less (香蕉, xiāngjiāo). The children have fun guessing the prices of items and counting their coins to "buy" what they need, helping them understand the concept of money and making choices.
Festival of the Week
This week, the children celebrated both St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day with creative activities. For St. Patrick’s Day, they designed their own green headbands and made four-leaf clover collages using various green materials. This was a fun way for the children to learn about the symbolism of the clover and explore textures and colours.
In celebration of St. Joseph’s Day, the children participated in a special activity where they made bread, a traditional treat in honour of the saint, helping them connect with this cultural celebration. We also discussed the significance of both holidays, helping the children understand the importance of St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s Day in Irish and Catholic cultures while celebrating these festive occasions.
STEAM Activities
This week, the children explore basic mathematics through fun, hands-on activities. They practice counting and number recognition by counting the flowers on their papers and using Montessori clips to match the correct numerals. This helps the children develop a stronger understanding of numbers and how they relate to quantities.
In addition, the children participate in a sorting activity where they throw coloured balls into the matching coloured baskets. This activity allows them to practice their sorting and categorising skills while improving hand-eye coordination. The children also enjoy exploring patterns, such as alternating colours and shapes, which encourages their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
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