From Jockeys to builders!

At Stepping Stones Nursery, as the summer term gallops by, so too have our much-loved hobby horses, who have been thoroughly exercised in the garden, leaping over homemade jumps fashioned from milk crates and planks, and racing enthusiastically around every corner. Nearby, our busy builders have been hard at work too, constructing walls, stables, and cosy bedding for their four-legged friends, showing wonderful teamwork, imagination and problem-solving along the way.

Before long, those trusty steeds may well transform into zebras as we begin one of our favourite stories, Handa's Surprise. This much-loved topic opens up rich conversations about culture, food, homes, habitats, friendships and feelings, and never fails to spark curiosity. It also brings back treasured memories. I still smile remembering collecting my own daughter from Stepping Stones almost twenty years ago and being told that while the children had been using clay to make Handa’s mud huts, Emily was quite certain hers was not a mud hut at all — “It’s Shrek’s house!” The little clay creation survives to this day, a priceless reminder that imagination always has the final word.

This term marks the final few weeks of an exciting transition for our preschool children as they prepare for school. There are visits to reception classes, teachers coming into nursery to meet the children, and important handover meetings where learning journals and reports help tell the story of each child’s unique journey so far. It’s a special season, one where confidence grows, friendships flourish, and new adventures begin to take shape.

As ever, the nursery team continues learning too. Alongside supporting the children and extending their ideas and curiosity each day, staff continue to attend specialist training in early years development, including Early Years Teacher Status Level 6 and Maths Champions. In addition to statutory training, staff have also attended a wide range of courses including Difficult Conversations, Five to Thrive, Promoting Secure Attachment, Managing Anxiety, LEGRO-Language Enrichment Group Programme, and SEND Transition into School, to name but a few. Investing in our staff team has always been part of the Stepping Stones story encouraging growth, nurturing talents and creating opportunities. It is a legacy championed by Laura, and one that continues to shape our nursery today.

For some families, this summer also brings a poignant milestone, as their youngest child prepares for that next step. While there is still much fun, laughter and learning to share before the end of term, we know these coming weeks will be filled with special moments muddy wellies, masterpiece paintings, songs, stories, and smiles at the door.