We would like to celebrate other religious and non-religious festivals and celebrations across the year that are important to you and your children. While we’re not always able to do a whole nursery celebration, please let us know if you would like to share something with your child’s Key Group. For example, it can be really nice to share a photo of how you celebrate at home and we can learn a lot from each other when we do this. We all celebrate differently and when we share what is important to us, it helps us learn about what is important to the children, and each other, and helps us connect.

Thank you to everyone who purchased raffle tickets for our Christmas Wish Tree. If you haven’t already done so, please check at reception if you hold a winning raffle ticket and to collect your child’s gift.

From the Seagulls Team

We have had another fun-filled term in Seagulls and are noticing stronger friendships forming between children within their Key Groups, but also across the Key Groups too. The children are showing more confidence in their choices within their play, learning the skills of negotiation, turn-taking, collaboration, and much more. Something we have been supporting many children with is the skill of joining play and/or instigating play with others. This can be quite challenging for young children for many reasons, such as learning to deal with rejection if a friend doesn’t want to play right now or they have a different idea for play... there might need to be a compromise, or acceptance that we can’t always get our own way!

Music has been very popular this term – we’ve been singing during group times and joining together on a Wednesday to sing all together in Seagulls. Billy and Paula have been teaching us new songs and Makaton signs. Many of the Seagulls team attended a training session about singing with young children which we look forward to discussing as a team and continue learning from.

In the garden we’ve been blasting music out of the speaker moving our bodies to keep warm, following patterns, and dancing to the beat! Afrobeats, drum ‘n’ bass, electronica, and nursery rhymes have been particularly popular. Music brings us together and can lift our mood on a grey day; when we need calm inside of Seagulls our music choices reflect that.

We have access to a music streaming service at nursery, so if there is a song, artist, or genre of music your child is enjoying at home please let their Key Person know. We’d love to add more variety to our playlists!

Trips to the forest have been a real highlight. Our nursery is a busy environment, so the moments of calm and connection to nature these trips offer is precious. Each trip is unique; we are often surprised by the unexpected

During some afternoons, we have started providing food sessions. Children can explore fresh foods with their senses and practice using simple kitchen tools safely. Carys will also be working with small groups later in the term to make bread and gingerbread biscuits

Block play (both inside + outside) has been increasingly popular. We love block play and the rich learning opportunities it provides!

This term we were visited by Helen, who is our Artist in Residence. Helen is an artist, a lecturer in Teaching Art, and studying for her PhD! She is conducting her research across a range of school settings including creating art with the children and interviewing staff.

Helen will return to Seagulls at different points over the year – we are excited for her next visit!

Promoting independence – we are encouraging children to look after their belongings, such as practising putting on shoes, dressing (or helping to dress) themselves, returning items to their pegs/bags, pouring their own drink during snack or lunch, or putting on their own coat. Perhaps you could practice some of these skills at home too? Learning these skills takes time, practice, and lots of repetition. We do this with encouragement, praise, patience and love. Encouraging independence builds resilience and confidence – lifelong skills we all benefit from! Click here to see the coat flip trick!

In January each Key Group will be welcoming new children. Some will be joining us from Blackbirds and others will be new to the nursery. We will be doing home visits for these children and look forward to getting to know new families!

Thank you for a great term, we look forward to seeing you all again after the Christmas break!

Primary School Applications:

A reminder for parents who have children born between 1^st September 2021- 31^st August 2022 that you need to apply for your child’s primary school place by 15^th January 2026. Applications must be made online at:

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/schools-learning-early-years/primary-apply

Help us to stop norovirus and other winter illnesses from spreading:

A reminder that if your child has a fever/high temperature, to please keep them at home for at least 24 hours after their temperature has returned to normal, and if they have been sick or had diarrhoea, to please keep them home for 48 hours after their symptoms clear.

We are going cashless!  As of the 1^st April 2026, we will be a cashless nursery school.  Please can we ask that any payments are made online via bacs or by card at reception. 

Reminders:

I would like to give you some important information reminders

• Please ensure you bring a bag in with multiple spare changes of clothes and wellies, as well as shoes, hats, gloves and scarves especially if it is raining and now the weather is getting colder.
• Please provide water in your child’s water bottle – no squash
• Mobile phones are not to be used once you have gone through reception into the Seagulls or Blackbirds rooms.
• Please can you fold down your buggies or take them away if possible. We need to keep the main entrance walkway clear at all times as this is a fire exit.
• Parking - please note that the car park is for the residents and a tow scheme is in place. We recommend using the on road pay and display bays for free 30 minutes to drop off and collect your children.
• Please check Facebook, Instagram and the website regularly. We are aiming to post photos (non-identifiable) of what the children have been enjoying each week.

• Dates for your Diary:
• We will finish for the Christmas & New Year break on Friday 19^th December, and return on Monday 5^th January. Nursery will be closed to all children during this time.
•  Thursday 15^th January 2026 – Primary School application deadline
• Wednesday 28^th January – INSET Day Nursery will be closed to all children

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We hope you enjoy spending time with family and friends and look forward to welcoming you back in 2026! 

Warm wishes,

Head Teacher