September is a month of new beginnings, a change in season and a welcoming of new children and their families into Stepping Stones for a new academic year. Joyful welcoming back of familiar faces both children and staff; and transitions for our caterpillar children into butterflies as they begin their preschool year. It has been wonderful to catch up with our friends and make new ones this first week back. We've enjoyed lots of fun physical activities both inside and out, to support and encourage all of our children, both new and old to settle happily into Stepping Stones. Our new children have been introduced to the fun of dough disco, tapping out rhythms with claves, music and movement and obstacle courses, alongside a wide range of play resources.
Whilst the weather is still warm, we’re reminded of the exciting adventures and fun we had during our summer break, and we've been sharing our memories and wow’s, photos, and treasures.
Autumn has most definitely arrived outside though, and we’ve been watching the leaves as they’ve swirled round the garden. Leaves have been brushed and raked, squished and flattened, transported across the garden and become concoctions in the mud kitchen as well as spiky hedgehogs in our artwork. Pine cones have begun falling too, huge cones we watched grow last term are now open and collecting in amongst our plants, becoming repurposed into insect homes, paint brushes, fairy garden decorations and part of wonderful outside art pictures. All created with concentration and care by our children as they make full use of Autumn treasure. Lovely stories of the very helpful hedgehog and Ferdie’s falling leaves bring the changes the children see and experience into greater context, helping with feelings and the big emotions that arise. Starting at preschool, having a new sibling, experiencing something new, or wondering just why trees are losing their leaves, all everyday occurrences that we support with love, laughter and learning here at Stepping Stones. Enabling children in our local community to help achieve their potential. We’ve really enjoyed the wonderful start to our new academic year and can’t wait to experience what the coming months will bring.
