2-3: The Discovery Hub

The children have continued to explore the indoor and outdoor environments as we continue to develop our interests. The water area has been a popular area this week as the children have explored scooping and pouring water. During this exploration, the children have explored sharing the jugs and boats, passing them between peers.

For our new starters we have been adding more transitions into the routine such as group times, snack times and explorations in our Blossom Garden. It has been wonderful to see how well the children are doing in such a short time.

Physical Development

This week we have been developing our fine motor and gross motor skills. We have been exploring ways to manipulate playdough using our hands, exploring rolling, squashing and squeezing the dough. We followed the actions of videos to manipulate the dough and followed the music. The children enjoyed this during our group times they asked for the playdough music during the sessions.

In the garden we have been developing our gross motor skills thinking about our balance and positioning. We offered various physical challenges for the children to explore such as crawling through the tunnels, walking up the steps and peek a boo tower and walking across balance beams. The children showed a ‘have a go’ attitude as they developed their confidence to have a turn at the challenges.

Mark making helps the children developing fine motor skills. This week we have been exploring mark making through chalks, crayons and brushes with water in the garden. Indoors we have been exploring using rollers where the children have to squeeze the tube to release the paint to the push along the paper.

Communication and Language

Dear Zoo has been our core book this week and the children have shown engagement with the story. We have discussed the animals in the book supported with props to identify the animals. The children have explored creating animal noises to match the animal on the page. While staff were reading the book they paused for the description of the animal. As we have repeated the book across the week the children are beginning to join in with describing the animal “too big” or “too jump”.

We have been exploring matching animal sounds to the photos with farm animals. The children have been very engaged to hear “what’s next” to find the photo quickly.

Parents as Partners

Please find a link for the menu attached it is also posted on our website. https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/media/47869/Bensham-nursery-menu/pdf/Bensham_menu_2025_26_Parents_copy.pdf?m=1760370832640. Next week we will be following Week 2.

Attached is a link to a read a long version of Dear Zoo you may wish to watch with your child. While watching you may wish to pause the video to see if you can make the noises of the animals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqGYWRHOV6E

Please can we ask that no food and drink are left in any bags due to children allergies. We are limited to space in nursery for bags so we do ask that bags are not left into the nursery if possible. All children have a box for their nappies, wipes, cream and spare clothes.

The Nursery Team