Spring has sprung!

As we step into April, both staff and children are full of the anticipation, curiosity and quiet wonder that spring so generously brings. Across our setting, learning has been lively, playful and purposeful, with children exploring, questioning and discovering through hands-on experiences, just as the Early Years Foundation Stage encourages. Spring has certainly stolen the spotlight. In the garden we have been noticing the signs of the season: buds bursting, shoots stretching and last year’s carefully planted conker beginning to grow. Watching a sticky, brown horse chestnut bud slowly opening sparked rich conversations about what plants need to thrive. The children talked about sunshine, showers and soil, while some captured their ideas through early drawings of seeds stretching into trees, developing both their understanding of the world and their early mark-making skills.

Life cycles have also been a firm favourite. Through stories, small world play and plenty of lively discussion, the children have explored how creatures grow and change, from frogspawn to frog, and caterpillar to butterfly. Along the way they have been trying out wonderful new words such as pupa, chrysalis and metamorphosis. Many have enjoyed sequencing pictures and retelling these tiny tales of transformation in their own words, building confidence in language and early literacy.

Our garden has also become a hub for mini-beast mathematicians and young scientists. Armed with our digital magnifying lenses, the children have been peering closely at worms and woodlice, counting tiny legs, comparing sizes and wondering where these creatures like to live. These investigations naturally weave together curiosity, counting and careful observation and lots of sustained shared thinking. Meanwhile, the mud kitchen has been bubbling with creativity. With pestle and mortar, bowls and jugs at the ready, the children have been busy mixing marvellous mud pies, leafy lotions and petal potions. As they scoop, stir and pour, they are exploring mathematical ideas such as capacity, full and empty, heavy and light, and more or less, sometimes predicting how many scoops might fill a bowl.

Later this term we look forward to visiting the church for a special service, a lovely chance for our children to feel part of the wider village community.