Recently our oldest children have been working upon their fine motor skills and training up their mathematical minds with Emily!

Using tweezers they explored a sensory tray filled with tissue paper, feathers and ribbons. They were aiming to uncover both marbles and… numbers!!

The numbers 1-7 were hidden throughout the tray. Once they found them they had to match them to their corresponding numicon shape. Finally, they placed the correct amount of marbles into the numicon using their tweezers!

Our children blew Emily away with their number knowledge! She saw careful counting of marbles after they had enjoyed scavenging to find them using the tweezers. She saw some great numeral recognition throughout too.

Our children carefully matched the numbers found to their numicon with ease, they would then check their answers by counting the holes in the numicon and then moving the number away if it wasn’t the same before then going on to fill the holes with the correct number of marbles!

Brilliant counting, number recognition, fine motor control and mathematical discussion took place… it was, quite simply, MAGIC!!

Recently Laura and her Possums decided to have a VERY messy morning… They used their senses to touch, feel and smell the crazy foam.

They all enjoyed squishing it between their fingers and some of the group did this with their toes too!!

Their most favourite thing of all to do though was to put some foam into their hands and then CLAP, so the foam went everywhere and fell down all around, and onto, them!

Sensory investigation and crazy fun…. It’s a winning formula!! Xxxx

Alice and Emma helped develop their children’s independence skills at breakfast time recently… at Jollies the learning starts from the moment our little ones step through the door

The children developed their hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills as they used their knives to spread their butter over their toast. They manoeuvred knives with care and control and readjusted grip and hold as required to ensure the best coverage!!

Independent ways and yummy munching days spent eating together here at Jollies xxxx

Massive congratulations to Elise who has just been sent her Level 2 certificate. She has done so brilliantly on her childcare journey so far and she’s whizzing straight on to her Level 3 which we are certain she’ll complete in no time

We have loved Elise being part of our Jolly Family for the past (almost!) two years and look forward to supporting her through her Level 3 and seeing her continue to develop, grow and shine in her role as a superb childcare practitioner.

Thank you for all you’ve brought to Jollies so far and here’s to lots more memories being made! Xxxx

After enjoying their breakfast recently Exploring Elephants’ role play house soon became a hive of activity when the group naturally gravitated towards it. They all took to looking after their ‘Baby Gruffalo’ and they were taking it in turns to nurture the baby and take care of their house… there were just so many chores to complete!!

The group chatted together and made sure to only make food that the baby could have, there was much discussion observed by Blue around the exact food required… “Baby can’t have potatoes…..will make him poorly!” “Banana instead!”

There was also lots of cleaning of the house too, from “hoovering the rug” to “washing up”. Well done everyone, what busy bees you all were working together… great teamwork!! xxxx

It’s never an easy thing to do and we are going to miss them terribly, but when parents and carers express the impact we’ve had upon their children throughout their Jolly journeys it simply makes our team’s hearts smile

“We would like to express our gratitude for the time and dedication you have shown over the past few years. Cora has truly enjoyed her time at the nursery from day one, and it has been wonderful to see her thrive and grow under your care.

We are incredibly grateful for the love, patience, and support you have given Cora. Thank you once again for everything you have done. Your dedication has made a significant positive impact on Cora’s early years, and for that, we are deeply appreciative”

Thank you all again for your kind words, your gifts and cards and for working in partnership with us to support your little ones throughout their nursery journeys. It means so very much to Team Jollies xxxx

After a hard morning’s work (tyre) mountain climbing there was only one thing to do… have a quick pit stop to refuel by frying up a feast in the (mud) kitchen…. Mmmmm yummy!!

Climbing days and collaborative cooking ways spent playing outside together here at Jollies xxxx

At Jollies a came to …

Our children have been loving Stephen’s new area where stories can really come alive!!!! xxxx

Free-Flow have been playing with the ‘Bloxels’ recently and they have found them to be lots and lots of fun. Using these mini blocks has involved talking about colours, looking carefully at patterns in order to follow them closely and counting out the number of blocks required to recreate the selected pattern/design… all whilst drawing upon our fine motor skills to manipulate them!

This little one was super excited to have a go, he showed his colour recognition expertise and did well with counting too! The main challenge he faced initially was knowing exactly where to place the blocks on his grid and he initially needed lots of guidance regarding where to put them… However, after this initial support and scaffolding by a nearby supportive grownup he was then able to go on to complete this task and he was VERY proud when he had finished his tree!

Carefully observing ways and hand/eye coordinating days spent creating here at Jollies xxxx

Two water trays, two pieces of guttering and lots of different resources… What could Stephen’s children possibly get up to this time?!

There were certainly plenty of different opportunities for his children to explore! Would they opt to pour and fill? Would they focus upon (and sort!) colours? Would they roll the balls up and down the ramps? Or would they prefer to balance the balls?

Stephen sat back and observed the play and interactions closely that followed… One little one enjoyed creating a ‘waterfall’ by pouring water down the tubes at a fast pace with their friends. Another then guides and changes the play and they add in some balls and use them to roll up and down the ramps, using force, when necessary, to ensure they make it all the way and land in the opposite tray!!

Lots of imagination was exhibited as objects were imagined to be something entirely different to their intended purpose and lots of cooperation, conversation and collaboration occurred as plans were negotiated and games and scenarios unfurled as the variety of objects on offer were used by our little ones to explore and investigate! Xxxx