Parentmail. No. 12. 9^th March 2026.

Dear Families,

Evenings are continuing to extend which is lovely for our after-school children…and their families who can drop of and pick up in daylight! As part of our self-evaluation, we are continually reflecting on our practice and bringing improvements to enhance what we offer. We value and follow a path into research, where we keep abreast of current information, coupled with your thoughts, ideas and comments to offer optimum care and education to our families.

Danger of Magnets

For your information, whilst evaluating our Health and Safety policies we came across recent research detailing the danger of magnets. In 2025, approximately 300 children in the Uk were admitted to A and E after swallowing magnets, where 1 in 10 required lifesaving operations as a result. Sadly, a 4-year-old passed away after swallowing two, 1cm fridge magnets. Children who swallow more than 1 are at greater risk of severe long-term damage. A Safety Alert, issued by the Office of Product Safety and Standards 2021 issued a warning against buying toys with magnets but despite this, children continue to be hospitalised. If a child swallows a magnet, they must go immediately to hospital.

Transition to Lower School.

Recent research, (2025), into School Readiness for children starting school in 2025, highlighted that the number of children not ‘school-ready’ rose from 34% to 37%, (research by Kindred School readiness survey). It showed that children do not have skills such as; being toilet trained, being unable to regulate emotions, not having basic language skills, and not having the basic life skills needed to engage with the curriculum.

There was also a mismatch between parental confidence and classroom readiness, with 88% of parents saying their child was ready for school and 35% believing their child is more than ready. The outcome showed that 94% of parents are calling for national guidance, and 84% wanting the information when their child turns four. Following our evaluation of this research, we will be bringing our ‘transition’ programme’ forward by a term this academic year and thereafter rolling this out each September.

Our current curriculum is designed to support children’s development to ensure they are developing the skills needed for both life and Reception Class. We additionally offer a ‘build up’ to school transition programme which is appropriate to our school starters. From our discussions with our feeder schools, our programmes are supportive in helping children enjoy a smooth transition from us to them. For children with SEND, this programme is adjusted to ensure they move on as seamlessly as possible, in line with their needs.

School places will be confirmed at the beginning of April 2026, and we would appreciate it if you could let us know, via Dojo, which school your child will be moving on to. We work closely with your new school/ setting to ensure a smooth transition which supports your child. This is very important preparation for the changes your child will be experiencing, giving them security, confidence and continuation of their learning. We will be doing activities within nursery which introduce them to their new uniform, routine, staff and friendship groups. Additionally, staff from the lower schools visit our setting to meet the children who will be joining them. St Marys staff will be coming over twice weekly to share stories with their group of children, building early relationships with them and staff from Roecroft and Fairfield are also invited in to get to know their children. Making these new relationships in the security of nursery, with our staff present, gives children a huge confidence boost and makes the move to their new setting much easier, resulting in a continuation of learning. Transition Records will be shared with you and your new school so they can build on previous achievements and learning they have gained during their time with us.

General Transition information has been sent to each family with a September 2026 Reception school-starter, and we will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. If your child is moving to a new school which is not in our feeder group of schools (these feeder schools are St Marys, Roecroft, Fairfield), please let us know and we will contact them to invite them into our group to build a relationship with your child.

Toilet Skills

We are promoting good toilet hygiene practices which encourages children to use toilet paper to wipe, to flush the toilet each time they use it, to wash their hands using soap each time they have been to the toilet and to dry them afterwards. Staff are always on hand to support these skills, and it is important for children to become independent in readiness for school.

For those who are not yet using the toilet, when you feel your child is ready to start toilet training, please speak to your keyworker. We will be pleased to support you and your child and copy the methods you are using at home. Consistency is key to success!

A request…

We are collecting pairs of socks for a friendship game and maths activities! Ideally these should be coloured or patterned so they are distinctive. This includes child and adult socks. It doesn’t matter if they are holey! All pairs gratefully received!

We are also collecting images to make a people collage. If you have any old magazines which have people in, these would also be very much appreciated.

Nursery Parent ‘Zoom’ or telephone Consultations.

Towards the end of March, key workers will be available for a 10-minute chat to update families on their child’s progress. These chats will not replace your termly update which will be sent out in your topic folders. If you would like to access a 10-minute slot, please Dojo and we will be in touch with the timetable for these chats shortly.

Parent/carer ‘Coffee and chat’

We are looking at holding a ‘coffee’ morning, where parents can come in to meet other parents/ chat informally to staff. These will not replace ‘family consultations’ but be an opportunity to get together with other parents. Children will not be present… they will be in the nursery session to give parents opportunity for some ‘chill’ time! If you would like to come, please let us know via Dojo and if sufficient interest, we will arrange a date.

After school Liaison

If there are any activities you would like us to include during our after-school sessions, please let us know. Also, if you would like a well-being chat about how your child is doing during extended hours, please let us know. We complete well-being observations on every child accessing additional hours to the school day. If we feel a child’s well-being is not optimum, staff will share this with families, but we wanted to extend the same offer as our nursery children for a chat, if families would like. Please let us know via Dojo, if you would like this.

Kind regards,

Joanne and The Team

Poppies Nursery Group

Parent News No.8

Early Years Foundation Stage Planning for Feb-Mar 2026 and

After School Planning for Feb-Mar 2026.

Children’s learning is broadly organised within four concepts; Children are offered free choice in and outdoors to select and use materials independently, where they are encouraged to make positive relationships with peers and staff. Within their free explorations they will be supported by their keyperson who will observe & assess their skills, interests, schemas and needs. This information will be used to inform optimum opportunities to support and enhance their future development on an individual level. Finally, in addition to free opportunities and individual key person activities, we offer ‘in the moment planning’ and structured planned, adult-supported activities which incorporate the interests, current topics and needs of the children. Every child will be invited to participate if they would like, accessing the activity at their own level. The skill of the staff will ensure activities are differentiated to support all abilities and needs. For children under 3, the Prime Areas will be fundamentalthroughout since they support later development in the Specific Areas. Running alongside these opportunities will be our Letters & Sounds Programme & Inclusion Development Programme.

CHILD INITIATED PLAY IS ENCOURAGED & SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT NURSERY WITH STAFF INCORPORATING CHILDREN’S IDEAS WITHIN FUTURE PLANNED OPPORTUNITIES.

Term Planning for February to March 2026

To celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 5^th March, we have dedicated this terms planning to our favourite stories. They have been selected to promote security fand well-being for children as this is our focus for this term. As always, our planning is fluid to incorporate needs, current ideas and interests of the children, which will be added where appropriate. There will be our usual free choice of all equipment and free play for both nursery and after school. Children are welcome to dress up on Thursday 2^nd March, in an outfit of their favourite book character.

Week 1

Nursery

• ‘Hungry Caterpillar’ activities
• ‘Handra’s Surprise’ activities

Ideas for home

Try different fruits and vegetables. Talk about the taste/feel/size/colour.

Print with old potatoes cut in half.

Compare weights of fruit and veg.

Play pretend ‘shops’ using fresh fruit/vegetables or play food.

Make fruit smoothies.

After School Club

• Make fruit salads
• Make smoothies
• Still life art of fruit and vegetables

Week 2

• ‘The Gingerbread Man’ activities.
• Paint characters from The Gingerbread Man
• Decorate Gingerbread character.
• Make clay gingerbread figures or other models.
• ‘The Gruffalo’ activities
• Building assault courses.
• Draw imaginary monsters, then paint.
• Invent a new meal for their monster i.e. Gruffalo crumble
• Act out Gruffalo story and film themselves using the ipad.
• ‘The Rainbow Fish’ activities.
• Making paper boats.
• Creating imaginary underwater animals. Using art and craft.
• Marble ink printing.
• ‘Beatrix Potter’ activities.
• Making mini gardens.
• Still life paintings of daffodils.
• Making ‘Spring’ books.

Ideas for home

Make play dough and add ginger essence.

Make gingerbread cookies.

Go for a walk on an imaginary gingerbread man journey. Talk about how he could get over or around obstacles.

Make an obstacle course with your child in the garden/ or a mini course for them to move a teddy or toy over/around/under, introducing positional language.

Build a gingerbread house using blocks.

After School Club

Week 3

Ideas for home.

Make a Gruffalo cave using throws.

Use mini world animals and paint to make prints on paper. Alternatively, make prints in playdough or outside in the garden.

Make a different meal with them than they would normally have!

After School Club

Week 4

Ideas for home.

Cut out a simple fish shape and write one letter from their name on each. Put the fish in a bowl. Child has to catch a fish then place each letter correctly to spell their name. a name guide can be used for them to copy where to put each letter. If you add a paper clip to the mouth of each fish, you can catch them using a magnet on a string. Or you could use a hairdryer to blow the fish so they need to catch them one at a time!

Talk about floating and sinking with a bowl of water. Encourage children to predict if the object will float or sink. More able children can make a tally of what floats or sinks.

After School Club

Week 5

Ideas for home

Hide plastic eggs around the garden for child to find.

Grow carrot tops in saucers of water.

Learn the song ‘See the little bunnies sleeping’ and play the game with them.

Go for a spring walk and look for buds, new leaves, nests, daffodils etc. listen to the sounds of spring as you walk and sniff the air for smells of spring!

After School Club

Please let us know if there is anything else you would like us to add to these activities.

Enjoy the half term break!

Kind regards,

Joanne and The Team