Activity of the Month

Salt Dough Decorations

1/2 Cup of Salt

1/2 Cup of Water

1 Cup of Flour.

In a bowl add the salt and flour. Then a little at a time add the water (you may not need all of the water). Mix until it forms a dough. You want the dough to be dry, if it feels sticky add more flour. Knead the dough and roll out. Using biscuit cutters, cut out the shape you want and put a hole at the top of the shape for a ribbon.

Traditionally Salt Dough is dried in the oven for around 3 hours, but these can be done in the microwave.

They take around 3 minutes to dry but do them at 10seconds a time so you don’t burn them. Do this until they are completely dry. Once dry leave to cool.

Once cooled you can then paint them. Again leave them to dry.

Once finished put a ribbon through the hole and hang them from your Christmas tree.

 

Menu of the Month

Lamb Hotpot with Crusty Bread

Ingredients

500g Diced Lamb

2 Celery Chopped

1 Pepper Sliced

5 Carrots Diced

1 Leek Thinly Sliced

1/2 Swede Diced

1 Small Onion Thinly Sliced

6 Large Potatoes Sliced

Stock

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 200oC/Gas Mark 6

Brown off the Lamb in a pan and add the carrots, leek, onion and swede.

And then cook until the onion and vegetables are soft.

Put into a casserole dish and pour over some stock until it just covers the meat and veg.

Put in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.

Put the sliced potatoes into a pan of boiling water and boil until they are cooked but still firm.

Drain the potatoes and then seal the casserole with them.

Return to the oven and cook until the potatoes are crispy.

Serve with warm Crusty Bread.

Seasonal Fruit Pie

Ingredients

110g Plain Flour

55g Butter

85g Sugar

Water

2 Apples

2 Pears

2 Plums

Handful of Blackberries

Method

Preheat the oven Gas Mark 6/200oC

Rub the butter, sugar and flour together until it resembles bread crumbs.

Add enough water to combine into a ball.

Wrap in clingfilm and place in the fridge for 1/2 an hour.

Peel the apples, pears and plums and place in a pan with the blackberries. Cover with hot water and sugar and boil until tender and then drain.

Whilst the fruit is cooling cut the pastry in half.

Roll 1 side out and line a pie dish. Prick the bottom and then pour the fruit in. Wet the edges of the pastry.

Roll out the other half. Place over the pie dish and push dawn the edges.

Remove any excess and put a slit in the middle (to let out any moisture).

Cook for around 20-30 minutes.

Serve with custard, cream or ice-cream

 

 

 

 

 

Events and Activities from Now until December 2018

Events and Activities which are happening from now until Christmas 2018

Parents Breakfast Tuesday 9th October 8.30am

If your child attends on this day then we would like to invite parents to join us for one of Brenda’s delicious breakfasts. Please let your child/rens key person know if you would like to join us.

 

Wednesday 31st October – Halloween Fun Day – for children who attend on this day

Please come to Nursery dressed in your spooky outfits.

Some activities we will be doing:

Pumpkin Carving,

Baking biscuits

Apple bobbing

Searching for spooky objects in slime

Making witches hats

Messy play with jelly and coloured spaghetti

Watch out for our very spooky lunch

 

Sunday 4th November 2.00pm-4.00pm Halloween and Bonfire Party – All children welcome and parents to stay

Please come dressed up and join in the sparkle and spookiness of this fun filled party. Once it turns dark you will be able to watch some fireworks and sparklers.

 

Monday 5th November – Bonfire Fun Day – for children who attend on this day

Some activities we will be doing

Making sparklers

Chocolate Apples

Junk modelling rockets

Splatter painting fireworks on a large scale

We will be having a bonfire lunch

 

Tuesday 6th November – Diwali Festival of Light

We will be talking to the children about Diwali and making colourful pictures, cards, lanterns, Diwa candle holders, painting henna designs on hands and making Rangoli patterns

 

Tuesday 6th November – Grandparents Day

If your child attends on this day then we would like to invite all Grandparents to come and join in the fund at Nursery. We will be holding 2 sessions one at 10.30am-11.30am and one at 2.30pm-3.30pm. Please let your child/rens key person know if you would like to join this event.

 

Thursday 8th November – Parents Evening – 6.10pm onwards

A time slot for all parents to speak to their child’s Key Person. Please book your slot. Each slot is 10 minutes long.

 

Friday 16th November – Children in Need

We will be doing a Baby Shark themed Children in Need this year – more information to follow.

On Friday 16th please can you send your child/ren dressed in spots. If your child doesn’t attend that day then please feel free to dress your child in spots during the week.

We will be doing lots of fun activities during the week.

We will also be holding a spotacular cake stall in the entrance the week commencing 12th November, all proceeds will be going towards Children in Need.

So please get baking and join in the fun.

 

Tuesday 4th at 10.30am and Wednesday 5th December at 2.30pm – Christmas Play

We are about to start rehearsing for our Christmas play. This years play will be The Snowman at Sunset.

Don’t worry if your child does not attend any of these days, they can still attend just for the play and if we can, we will swap sessions to make it easier. however due to extremely high occupancy figures this may not be possible. We would like all children to take part in one of the plays – from baby room to the pre-school room.

More information about the play, costumes and which day your child will take part will follow shortly. All family members are welcome to come to watch the plays – please give the staff a rough idea of how many will be watching so we know how many will be attending. Again due to high numbers we may have to limit the amount of family members but please ask as we love it when Grandparents etc. come to watch.

 

Thursday 6th December – Photo Day

If you would like to bring clean clothes for your child’s photo, please feel free. If your child does not attend nursery this day please book in a time slot for your child to have their photo’s taken. All photo’s will be back in time for Christmas.

 

Thursday 13th December – Christmas Party

We will be dancing, playing games and having lots of fun.

We have a very special visitor who will be returning to Nursery as all my Little Acorns have been extremely good this year. Bringing Father Christmas to Nursery are 2 of his special reindeers – yes, we have 2 real reindeers who will be in the Nursery garden alongside our grotto – the reindeers will be at Nursery from 2.00pm-4.00pm. Please help staff make this a big surprise and not mention it to your child/ren. If your child does not attend this day, please bring them along to join in the fun – parents or a responsible adult (over 16) will need to stay with them due to staff:child ratios.

More information about the party will be given closer to the time.

 

Friday 14th December – Christmas Jumper Day

We will all be wearing Christmas Jumpers so please send your child/ren into Nursery with their festive jumpers/t-shirts on to join in the fun.

 

Thursday 20th December – Christmas Lunch

Brenda will be rustling us up one of her fab Christmas Lunches. Due to number, the Christmas Lunch will be for the children who normally attend on this day. A menu will follow closer to the day.

 

Father Christmas Trip – Pre-school children only

A date will be arranged and letters sent out to visit Father Christmas in York.

Further information to follow.

 

Many Thanks

Sarah and Staff