Blackbirds Newsletter - Term 5
Dear parents and carers,
The team thoroughly enjoy setting up the Blackbirds environment each morning. The team have been having on-going conversations surrounding the environment and are always thinking of ways to further enrich the different spaces. In line with our planning board, we work together to create rich, inviting and fun set ups that we feel the children will enjoy playing with and exploring. Our set ups are very much influenced by the children’s wonderful avenues of play and ideas. The children inspire us to add to, change and take away resources from our set ups. We love seeing what ideas they bring to the environment – truly making it their own space to play. Recently, the team had a meeting where we reflected on the studio area in the room. We wanted to ensure that the children can see the resources that are available to them and that they can access them themselves. We felt that having too many resources could be overwhelming for the children, so we adapted the space to allow the children to feel they have further autonomy over this space of the room.
If your child has not yet had their nursery ‘2-Year-Old Progress Check’, their key person will be contacting you, via email, inviting you to come in for this meeting. A provisional date will be suggested in this email but if you are unable to attend this date, please can you let us know so we can reschedule the meeting for another day. If you have any questions regarding this meeting or would like further understanding of what this meeting is, please do speak your child’s key person. Kerry and Alex are also available to support. This is a lovely opportunity for us to come together to reflect on your child’s journey with us so far, their learning and development, as well as their wellbeing.
We would like to wish a warm welcome back to Carmen who has returned to her key person role at the end of the week. She has already been reunited with the children and families which has been a joy to see. Zoe has been covering for Carmen during her leave. Zoe has built wonderful relationships with the children, and we are very glad that Zoe will continue to support us in Blackbirds and across the nursery.
Many of you will know Layla who has been doing her placement with us in Blackbirds for two years. She is finishing up her exams and only has a handful of placement days left at Redcliffe. Sadly, her last day with us is on Wednesday 20th May. The team would like to wish her well on her next chapter in the Early Years sector and hope that she returns to Redcliffe, in some capacity, one day. The children have thoroughly enjoyed playing and learning alongside Layla.
World Culture Day – Thursday 21st May 2026 – This year we have been having a week-long celebration from Monday 18th- Friday 22nd May 2026. Children in both Blackbirds and Seagulls rooms have been taking part in activities exploring cultures from around the world. Our aim is to celebrate cultural diversity through stories, music, food, clothing, languages, crafts, and traditions.
Thank you to everyone who came in for world culture week. The children enjoyed listening to stories, dancing and tasting different foods.
We hope you all have a lovely half term, and we look forward to welcoming you back for our last term together.
Kerry, Alex, Yasmin, Laurie, Helen, Antonia, Maddy, Natasha, Carmen, Zoe, Basra, Jeanette and Layla
We need your help! We’re fundraising to purchase a bubble lamp for our sensory room – a calming, engaging resource, that supports children’s sensory regulation, communication and wellbeing. If you would like to support this project, you can donate via our Just Giving page. Any contribution, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping us continue to create an inclusive and nurturing environment for our children
Talk PANTS and help keep children safe
Since 2013, Pantosaurus has helped over six million parents to Talk PANTS and help keep children safe from sexual abuse.
Developed with children, parents, carers and teachers, Talk PANTS is here to help children understand that their body belongs to them, and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. Talk PANTS is here to help children understand that they have a right to say no and if they need to speak out about something, someone will listen.
We know that a simple conversation can make a BIG difference, and that’s what Talk PANTS is all about. To help you get the conversation started. Please visit the following link for more details and tips on how to get the conversation started: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/advice-for-families/pants-underwear-rule/
Redcliffe Community Festival This Saturday 23rd May 1pm-5pm, All families welcome, see poster for further details
We have been asked to share this survey by the Children’s commissioner, Dame Rachel De Souza with all parents and carers in our community.
As Children’s Commissioner, I am writing to ask you to ensure all of your children complete my new survey, The Big Future.
Under the Children Act 2004, it is my role to promote the views and interests of children in England, and I have done this so far by conducting the two largest ever children’s surveys: The Big Ask and The Big Ambition.
Now, for the first time, hundreds of thousands of children will be eligible to vote in the next general election, the biggest change to the franchise in half a century. Yet just one in five children say politicians listen to them. That’s why I’m launching my final survey, The Big Future.
You can complete the survey here: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture.
I want to make sure that I hear from as many children as possible, aged 0-18, from all backgrounds, in all schools and colleges, and in every part of the country. To do that, I need your help. I am asking children about the changes they want to see in their communities, their biggest concerns, and their hopes for the future. More than anything, I want to know what they think a good childhood should look like today. I will be publishing my findings next year, and they will be used to advocate at the highest level for solutions that children want to see, to the problems that they tell me are most important to them.
Thank you for your support.
Yours sincerely,
Dame Rachel de Souza
Children’s Commissioner
Reminders:
I would like to give you some important information reminders
- Please ensure you bring a bag in with multiple spare changes of clothes, including socks. As the weather improves, please provide a sunhat and sun cream for your child.
- 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 Half Term break on Friday 22nd May and return on Monday 1st June. Nursery will be closed to all children during this time.
- Wednesday 10th June – INSET Day Nursery will be closed to all children
Warm wishes,
Head Teacher