Preschool

2nd November 2026

Duckling Room

A very warm welcome back to all our lovely little children after the half-term break! We are so happy to see everyone back in Duckling Room. The children have all settled back beautifully and are certainly raring to go! It has been lovely seeing their happy faces, catching up with friends and getting back into our nursery routines.

This term we are beginning an exciting new topic all about COLOURS! Each week we will be exploring a different colour through stories, sensory play, creative activities and lots of fun discoveries. This week we have been focusing on the colour RED!

Our Story of the Week has been The Little Red Hen. We have been so pleased to see how much the children have enjoyed listening to our story. They have been sitting so beautifully, showing lovely listening skills and joining in with the familiar parts. Well, done, Ducklings!

We have also been getting very creative! The children had lots of fun making their own firework pictures using… yes, you guessed it… toilet rolls! These made wonderful printing tools for exploring colour, patterns and mark-making, with a little added glitter for extra sparkle! To celebrate Diwali, the children also created some lovely colourful lanterns, exploring different materials and enjoying getting creative together.

Of course, we couldn't forget our playdough! The children have enjoyed making and exploring their own playdough, developing those little hand muscles through squeezing, rolling, pressing and squashing.

Out in the preschool garden, we have been busy exploring the outdoors. The children loved mixing leaves and sand in our mud kitchen, enjoying the ride-on toys and experimenting with mark-making using the colourful chalks. We also created a lovely wild animal area using natural materials such as leaves and bark. The children had great fun bringing the little animals to life through imaginative play and creating their own adventures!

Well, done, Ducklings!

 

Owl Room

Welcome Back, Owls!

A very warm welcome back to all our wonderful children after the half-term break! It has been lovely to see everyone returning so happily, settling back into our nursery routines and, most importantly, catching up with their friends. We hope you all had a lovely break!

We are starting the new term with an exciting topic all about Colours, Patterns and Celebrations! There is so much to explore, and we have already had a fantastic start.

The children have enjoyed making their own playdough with their key groups, exploring different textures and getting creative. We have also had lots of fun investigating our colourful tuff tray, filled with coloured rice, glitter and orange sand. What a wonderful sensory experience, with lots of opportunities for exploring, discovering and talking about what we could see and feel!

As we approach the celebrations of Diwali and Bonfire Night, the children have been introduced to pictures of colourful fireworks and Diwali celebrations. During circle time, we talked about firework safety and shared our ideas. These activities encouraged some lovely conversations and provided lots of quality interactions, helping to develop the children's language, listening and understanding.

Our Story of the Week has been The Very Helpful Hedgehog. Children have been learning about different animals and discovering which ones hibernate during the colder months. We have enjoyed talking about how animals prepare for winter and where they go to keep warm.

Outdoors, we have been busy enjoying our sensory circuit and exploring the playground with balls and hoops. We have also been little Autumn detectives, looking for signs of the changing season and noticing the beautiful colours appearing around us.

What a fantastic start back, Owls! We are looking forward to another exciting term full of exploring, learning, creativity and lots of fun together.

Well, done, everyone!

 

12th October 2026

Duckling Room -

What a lovely week we have had in Duckling Room!

Our little Ducklings have been busy getting creative as we celebrate Harvest Festival and all things autumn! The children have been making some beautiful harvest crowns using natural materials such as leaves, twigs and card. It has been wonderful to see them exploring different textures and using their creativity to make their own special designs.

We have also enjoyed lots of exciting autumn craft activities, exploring the beautiful colours of the season through painting, mixing and printing. The children experimented with autumn shades of red, orange and yellow, using different shapes and tools to create their own colourful prints.

One activity that was a particular favourite was making our very own autumn leaves! The children loved sticking colourful tissue paper onto their leaf shapes, and there was certainly plenty of glue involved! It was lovely to watch them exploring the materials, developing their fine motor skills and expressing themselves through creative play.

Alongside our creative activities, we have continued with our Personal, Social and Emotional Development programme, focusing on learning how to take turns when playing with our toys. We used puppets to help the children understand what turn- taking looks like and how we can play happily together. Through these fun, hands-on experiences, the children are beginning to develop important social skills, including sharing, waiting and understanding the feelings of others.

We have also made the most of our outdoor playtime! The children have loved exploring the fallen autumn leaves and investigating the different colours and textures around them. Our large sand tray has been a big hit too, with the children enjoying lots of imaginative play using our digger toys. What wonderful opportunities for exploration, discovery and learning!

A huge well done to all our little Ducklings for another fantastic week full of creativity, fun and learning! We are so proud of all the wonderful things you are discovering and achieving.

 

Owl Room - 

Our Week of Celebrating What Makes Us Special!

What a wonderful week we have had in Owls!

This week, the children have been learning all about what makes each of us special and unique. We invited the children to bring in something special from home to share with their friends. It was lovely to see the different treasures they brought in, from precious family photographs to favourite cuddly toys. These special items encouraged the children to talk about the things they love and share a little piece of their home life with their friends.

To finish our week, we held our very own Owl Room Talent Show! It was truly wonderful to see the children showcasing their individual talents, achievements and skills. The children spoke so confidently and proudly about what they can do, from learning to ride their bikes to playing the ukulele during circle time! We were so proud of everyone who took part and shared something special about themselves.

The children have also continued to enjoy their PE sessions in the hall, developing their physical skills, coordination and confidence as they move, play and explore different activities together.

Next week, we are excited to introduce the children to Helicopter Stories! This is a lovely approach that encourages children to create their own stories, share their ideas and see their imaginations come to life. The children will have opportunities to express themselves, develop their communication and language skills, and build confidence as they share their own wonderful ideas with their friends.

Well done, Owls, for another fantastic week of learning, sharing and celebrating just how special you all are!

28th September 2026

Owl Room-We have had a wonderful time in Owls, getting to know our new routines, exploring our learning environment and building friendships. The children have been busy taking part in lots of exciting activities, learning about ourselves, our families, our bodies and healthy living. The children have been talking about their families and who they live with. We have enjoyed sharing conversations about the special people in our lives and learning that every family is unique.

As part of our creative learning, the children have been making their own houses using lolly sticks. They have been developing their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and creativity while designing and constructing their houses. It has been lovely to see their imagination come to life as they talk about their homes and families.

We have also been exploring our bodies and talking about how we can look after ourselves. The children have been learning about healthy foods and why eating a variety of fruit and vegetables is important for keeping our bodies healthy.

We have been talking about our helping hands and how we can use our hands to help others, share, be kind and look after our friends. This has encouraged the children to think about kindness, caring for one another and developing positive relationships.

The children have enjoyed exploring different fruits and vegetables, using their senses to look, feel and talk about what they discovered.

We also got creative by using vegetables to make prints! The children experimented with different shapes, patterns and colours, developing their creative skills while exploring the interesting textures and marks that vegetables can make. It was a fantastic opportunity to combine learning about healthy foods with creative expression.

In Owl Room, we have been introducing and practicing some useful Makaton signs, such as, ‘hello’, ‘thank you’ and ‘please’.

The children have been developing their communication skills by using signs alongside spoken language. We will continue practicing these signs during our daily routines and interactions, helping the children to communicate and express themselves confidently.

As the children settle into Owl Room, we have been learning about our classroom rules and expectations. We have been talking about:

• Being kind and caring towards our friends.
• Listening to our teachers and one another.
• Sharing and taking turns.
• Looking after our toys and learning resources.
• Using our helping hands to support others.

Duckling Room -

What a lovely week we have had in Duckling Room! This week, the children have been learning all about feelings and emotions and exploring the different ways we can recognise and express how we feel.

We have been talking about emotions such as happy, sad and angry, using our emotion cards to help the children identify different facial expressions and begin to talk about how they are feeling. We have also explored what helps us to feel calm and relaxed, encouraging the children to think about ways we can make ourselves feel better when we are upset or cross.

The children particularly enjoyed our lovely teddy bear tea party! They used their imaginations to make tea for the teddy bears, developing their language, social skills and confidence through role play. It was wonderful to see the children sharing, communicating and caring for their teddy bears.

For our creative activities, the children enjoyed using paint to create their own happy faces, thinking about what a happy face looks like. They also coloured an emotions flower, choosing colours and talking about the different feelings represented.

During circle time, the children have been taking part in our Personal and Social programme. We have been practicing saying “hello” to our friends, learning how to make friends, and talking about the importance of sharing and taking turns when playing with our toys. The children are beginning to understand that playing together means listening to our friends and waiting patiently for our turn.

We have also had lots of fun exploring our musical instruments! The children enjoyed making different sounds, experimenting with rhythms and joining in together. This was a wonderful opportunity to express ourselves through music while developing listening and turn-taking skills.

14th September 2026

Owl Room

We are so proud of how the children have settled into Owl Room this term! It has been lovely to see how much their confidence has grown as they become familiar with their new surroundings, routines and friendships.

The children have been getting used to their new preschool routines, including self- registration, circle time and group activities. We have been encouraging the children to become more independent and confident in making choices, joining in with activities and taking responsibility for themselves and their environment.

The children have had lots of opportunities to explore both indoors and outdoors. They have particularly enjoyed our PE sessions in the hall, where they have been developing their physical skills, confidence and ability to follow instructions.

Our outdoor area has also been a place for exploration and discovery. The children have enjoyed investigating the sand and water, as well as discovering our new fairy garden. These experiences encourage the children to use their imagination, develop their language and communication skills and explore the world around them.

The new music area has been a great success too! The children have had lots of fun experimenting with our collection of pots, pans and other musical objects, discovering how they can create different loud and quiet sounds and rhythms.

Our topic this term is “All About Me”, and the children have been exploring who they are, what makes them special and the people and places that are important to them.

The children have been creating their own self-portraits, using a range of natural and creative resources including wool and card. This has given them the opportunity to think carefully about their own features while developing their creativity, fine motor skills and ability to express themselves.

We have also been exploring homes and houses, with the children enjoying the opportunity to design and create their own houses. This has encouraged lots of imaginative ideas and conversations about where they live, who lives with them and what makes a house feel like home.

It has been wonderful to see the children becoming more confident, independent and curious at the beginning of the term. We are very proud of all their achievements and look forward to seeing them continue to learn, explore and grow together.

 

Duckling Room

We are so proud of how wonderfully the children have settled into Duckling Room. It has been lovely to watch them become familiar with their new surroundings, learn our preschool routines and begin to build new friendships.

During the term, we have been supporting the children as they become confident with routines such as circle time, snack time and group activities. The children are beginning to understand what happens throughout their preschool day, and it has been lovely to see their confidence grow as they explore their new environment and make new friends.

We are also encouraging the children to develop their independence and confidence within preschool. We celebrate their little achievements, whether it is having a go at something new, helping to tidy away, making choices during play or joining in with a group activity.

Our topic this term is called “Ourselves”, this is about their families and the people who are important to them, feelings, our bodies, and the things that we like.

During our key group sessions, we have enjoyed looking at family photographs together. It has been lovely to see the children pointing out familiar faces and sharing their thoughts and experiences. These conversations have provided wonderful opportunities for the children to develop their language and communication skills, while helping them to feel valued and listened to.

The children have also enjoyed a variety of creative and sensory experiences, including making our little ducks using finger painting. They have explored different textures and materials while developing their fine motor skills and creativity.

We have enjoyed sharing stories together, encouraging the children to listen, join in with repeated words and develop a love of books. Also, the children had great fun exploring musical instruments, making sounds, singing songs and moving to music.

It has been a lovely beginning of term, and we are so pleased with the progress each child is making. We look forward to continuing to support their learning, confidence, independence and friendships as they grow and develop throughout the year.

 

6th July 2026

Keeping cool in preschool! The recent warm weather has brought lots of exciting opportunities for outdoor learning and play across both Preschool Rooms. To help everyone stay cool and comfortable, the children have enjoyed a variety of water-based activities throughout the week. From water trays and pouring stations to splashing games and sensory water tuff trays, the children have had great fun exploring, experimenting, and working together. These activities have supported the development of fine motor skills, problem-solving, communication, and cooperative play while providing a refreshing way to enjoy the sunshine. We also introduced ice play, where the children investigated melting ice, explored different textures and temperatures, and used tools to discover hidden objects frozen inside. This sparked lots of curiosity, conversation, and scientific thinking as the children observed how the ice changed in the sunshine.

We have been encouraging the children to take regular drinks of water, seek shade when needed, and learn about the importance of staying safe in hot weather. It has been wonderful to see the children confidently helping to fill containers, share resources, and engage in imaginative water play with their friends.

Thank you for continuing to send your children with sun hats and suitable clothing. We look forward to making the most of the summer weather while keeping everyone safe, happy, and hydrated!

8th June 2026

This week in Owl Class, the children have been enjoying our new topic, "People Who Help Us." They have been learning about the important roles that different people play in our community, including doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and many others. The children have been enthusiastic during discussions and activities, sharing their own experiences and ideas about how these people help us every day.

We are also excited that it has been the Duckling Room's turn to take part in Forest School sessions. The children have thoroughly enjoyed spending time outdoors, exploring the natural environment, building confidence, and developing their teamwork skills through a variety of fun and engaging activities. It has been wonderful to see their excitement and curiosity as they learn through hands-on experiences in nature.

We look forward to continuing our learning and sharing more exciting experiences with you over the coming weeks!

 

18th May 2026

Our Little ducklings have been loving our new outdoor equipment. The cascading water fountain has been a huge hit, and they are fascinated watching the water filter down through the bamboo tubes before collecting at the bottom. There has been lots of filling and emptying, pouring, and exploring as the children investigate how the water moves.

The new climbing frame has also proved very popular. The children have been enjoying the different climbing options, as well as using the den for imaginative play and zooming down the slide. It has been wonderful to see their confidence, coordination, and teamwork developing through their outdoor play experiences. Now we just need the sunshine.....

 

16th March 2026

Preschool

Following on from it’s success last year, this week the preschool children were lucky enough to attend a session with Little City!

This is an engaging role play experience where children can explore and act out a variety of real life scenarios and ‘be’ grown ups, where nothing is off limits.

The children had the opportunity to dress up and take on different roles, such as hairdresser, café worker, fire fighter, doctor, supermarket assistant and many more. It was lovely to see their imaginations come alive as they threw themselves wholeheartedly into every occupation.

We would like to extend a big thank you to The Friends of Prestwood Infant School for funding this event, also to our parent helpers for supporting the children and especially to Chloe for hosting the session.

The children and adults had a wonderful time and are already looking forward to hosting this event again next year.

 

2nd March 2026

This half term in Owl room, our theme is Spring and growing. The children have been exploring seeds, beans, and peas, learning about want plants need to grow. We are very excited to begin planting seeds in our new outside planter and watching them grow and change over the coming weeks. This hands on experience will help the children understand the life cycle of plants in a fun and meaningful way.

In Duckling room, the theme is The Farm. The children have been getting creative by painting a wonderful barn and a variety of farm animals. They are enjoying talking about farm animals and the noises they make.

Both rooms have been making the most of the lovely weather, spending lots of time outdoors in the sunshine.

This week is Communication Week, and across both preschool rooms we have been taking part in a range of fun, language rich activities, from storytelling, singing, and role play and learning Makaton, which the children are really enjoying.

 

9th February 2026

This week in the Duckling Room, we have been exploring colour. The children have enjoyed lots of colour mixing creative activities, experimenting with different shades and discovering what happens when colours are combined. They have shown great curiosity and excitement as they painted, printed and created colourful masterpieces. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they talked about the colours they were using and the changes they noticed.

In Owl Class, the children have been exploring the story of the Gingerbread Man. They have loved acting out the story taking on the different roles and learning the rhyme, RUN RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN.

The highlight was when the gingerbread man was caught on camera snooping around the preschool after everyone had gone home! The children were amazed especially when they saw him jump onto the table! There were lots of surprised faces and conversations as they shared their ideas about what might have been doing.

26th January 2026

This week in Owl room we are reading Jack and the Beanstalk, The children were so excited that we decided to plant our very own “magic beans.” The children each folded a piece of paper towel and put it in their plastic cups, they then chose a magic bean and then watered it, they then made predictions about what might happen next.

We can’t wait to watch our beans grow and see how tall they become.

In the Duckling room, as part of our topic building and construction, the children had great fun building a wall using cereal boxes. They especially loved using the wheelbarrow to collect and transport the boxes before joining them together. This activity supported teamwork, problem-solving, coordination, and lots of creative thinking.

12th January 2026

Welcome back, and Happy New Year to all our families,

It has been a busy couple of weeks in our preschool rooms.

Duckling room children have been making the most of the cold weather by enjoying rich learning experiences both outdoors and indoors.

While playing outside the children collected the ice and explored its cold, slippery texture. We added polar bears and penguins to the ice which inspired their imaginative play and storytelling skills as the children created icy habitats and we discussed animals that live in the cold environments

We then brought the ice inside and worked together to build a small igloo. This activity linked beautifully to our current topic of Building and Construction. The children experimented with stacking and balancing the ice, shared ideas, and problem solved together.

As the ice began to melt, the children observed the changes taking place. We watched closely and talked about why the ice was changing. This was a great opportunity to explore early scientific concepts and develop curiosity about the natural world.

8th December 2025

The walk to Lapland has begun!

This week our little Ducklings joined Owl class to begin the exciting walk to Lapland. This is a special joint mission taking place across all of the Great Learners Trust schools, and we were excited to get things started.

The Ducklings led the way, looking all Christmassy as they shook their jingle bells and sang festive songs while we lapped around the playground. 

After our walk, we looked at pictures of Lapland and talked about the snowy landscapes, the reindeer, and what it might be like to visit this magical place. Their imaginations were full of wonder and it sparked lots of interesting conversations. 

Well Done Ducklings.

 

24th November 2025

This week the Owl class have been exploring the wonderful world of light and dark. The children had great fun experimenting with torches and glow sticks inside our cosy dark den, watching how different colours and beams of light glow in the darkness.

Outside, the children enjoyed chasing their shadows and discovering how to make shadows dance across the playground. They were fascinated to see how their movements changed the shapes and sizes they created, as they also made shadows inside against the wall

We also had some thoughtful discussions about where light comes from, exploring both natural and man made light sources. The children shared brilliant ideas about the sun, lamps candles and more.

It has been a bright and exciting week of learning for our little Owls.

 

17th November 2025

Its beginning to look a lot like winter, the children were thrilled to see the snow yesterday, it brought so much excitement and inspired us to create are very own collaged snowmen. We had some wonderful conversations about the weather how snow is made and what it feels like.

Inside the duckling room things have been very noisey. We have been busy exploring a range of musical instruments, discovering different sounds, rhythms, and ways to play.

They especially enjoyed playing along to our favourite songs, filling the room with music, movement, lots of noise and smiles.