Week Beginning 17th November 2025

The Investigation Hub at Sidney Grove

Characteristics of Effective Learning

Active Learning- Being involved and concentrating

We saw lots of interest in the loose parts resources in the small world area this week. Children used loose parts to create cakes, pizzas, patterns, snowmen, houses and cars! Some children placed objects carefully thinking about the composition without an end product in mind.

Transient art and loose parts play offer valuable learning opportunities for young children. Because the materials can be moved, combined, and rearranged, children are encouraged to think creatively, problem-solve, and explore their ideas freely. This open-ended play supports early mathematical skills such as sorting, patterning, and counting, while also strengthening fine motor control. 

Parents as Partners

Our core text was Stanley’s Stick which inspired some beautiful transient artwork using natural objects. We used branches fallen in the garden and wrapped them in wool as our fine-motor focus task and created stick frames to enclose transient art with natural materials.

We explored activities focussed on Road Safety using role-play experiences and small world resources to act out realistic scenarios linked with staying safe near roads. Some of our children were amazing at being the School Crossing Patrol Officer and were not flustered by having to stop the traffic and direct the pedestrians at the same time:-)

Outdoors Learning

This week, the children explored a variety of winter weather conditions, with the snowfall creating the most excitement. The snow provided opportunities for hands-on learning as the children investigated how it feels, moves, and changes. They experimented with making footprints and marks, observed how snow can be shaped to build snowmen, and discussed what happens as it begins to melt.

Throughout their play, the children used a wide range of descriptive vocabulary—such as “crunchy,” “slushy,” “slippery,” “frozen,” and “flurries.” They showed particular interest in their footprints, looking closely at the shapes they created and stamping in the fresh snow to create more. In Review time the children were able to articulate their experiences of the snow with confidence…

‘I cleaned with my mop…it got all covered in snow, it’s frozen!’

‘I was cleaning a path…it get sunny I think and it’s gonna melt soon!’

‘I found a snow leaf, snow covered all over it! My shaked it off so I could see which colour it was!’

Diary Dates

Stay and Play Sessions- Wednesday 26th November 2025

Morning session: 9.15-10.30

Afternoon session: 1.30-2.45

Please come along and join us to take part in some winter activities with your child!

Staffing Updates

We said goodbye to Sara this week who is beginning a new chapter in her work in Education. We wish her the very best of luck and we will miss you!