Welcome to our Nursery webpage...We will be updating the page every few weeks...Don't forget to check in regularly for all our updates...
Welcome to the Cranborne Nursery Class Webpage. This is where we will be sharing useful information and reminders, alongside, updates on the children's upcoming and previous learning experiences with us.
We know that starting school can be a stressful experience for some, which is why we are always here to help everyone settle into our routines. We also understand that you may have lots of questions during the first few weeks (and across the year), so please ask one of us if there is anything you don't understand or just need a bit more information about.
Our Routines:
- We open our doors at 8.40am and encourage you to leave your child at the door, so they can independently put their coats and bags away before settling themselves at a busy fingers activity that will be set out.
- We go to the library on a Friday morning - please send them in with a book bag to take their library book home.
- Our PE day is Monday morning - your child does not need a school PE kit, however you can send them in wearing trainers (velcro please) and joggers/leggings that day.
- Also a reminder that toys from home should not be sent into school.
A few other reminders:
*Please send in a named water bottle daily for your child too.
*Please make sure your child is in labelled school uniform.
*Please send your child in with a named book bag - especially on a Fridays for library.
Spring Term - 2026
Welcome back to school!
We hope you have all had a good rest over the break.
Thank you from the team for the very generous gifts we recieved before Christmas, we really appreciated them.
Meet the Nursery Team
Mrs Mottram - Class Teacher
Miss Jennings -EYP
Miss March - EYP
Mrs Shete - TA
We are here to help you all. If you need anything or have any questions - no matter how trivial they may seem to you - we are always available to talk.
Key Dates for Spring Term 2026
- Monday 19th January - Friends of Cranborne pre-loved book sale
- Thursday 12th February - Storytelling Visit (in school)
- Friday 13th February - Last day of term & Friendship Disco
- 16th - 20th February - Half term - School is closed
- Monday 23rd February - First day back for all children
- Thursday 5th March - World Book Day
- Friday 6th March - Friends of Cranborne pre-loved uniform and book sale
- Monday 23rd March - Easter Fayre
- Friday 27th March - Last day of term. School finishes at 1:15pm
- Link to the school calendar
- Link to the school term dates
Our Learning
Below is an overview of our learning for the first half of the Spring Term. This is a guide only, as it can change depending on children's interests and unplanned events that may happen.
Nursery Spring 1 Overview
Every couple of weeks we will be posting pictures and updates on your children's learning experiences and time in nursery, so please remember to check back regularly.
What have we been up to?
Happy New year everyone!
The children have had a great first week back in school. They have enjoyed seeing all their friends again (and teachers!) and have started our new topic on Dinosaurs.
We have had lots of construction going on, making homes for dinosaurs, creating dinosaur pictures using sponge printing, alongside imaginary play in the small world area which is being turned into 'Dino Land' next week with the children's help and ideas.
In maths we have been looking at size comparisons, and how we can use the correct vocabulary when doing so. For example; big, bigger, biggest.
The Learning Environment in Cranborne Early Years Foundation Stage
In the Early Years at Cranborne we strive to create an environment that promotes a sense of curiosity, awe and wonder in the children.
An environment that also enables plenty of opportunities for them to self-select and demonstrate the characteristics of effective learning, and where the children can practise, consolidate and rehearse taught skills.
We aim to provide the children with areas that are accessible to them and are organised in a way to promote independence and purposeful play.
The seven areas of learning are as follows:
Communication and Language*
Physical Development*
Personal, Social and Emotional Development*
Literacy
Maths
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Expressive Arts and Design
*Prime Areas of Learning
Below you can see some pictures and a video tour of the Nursery classroom.
Thank you to all the parents that made it to our New Parents Meeting on 4th June.
Below is a copy of the slides that we talked through.
New Parent Meeting June 4th 2025
Supporting Maths at home.
Below are some links to sites that give examples of how to support maths at home. There is also a document to show some ideas for how you can support the different areas of the EYFS maths curriculum at home, and when out and about with your child.
Do you need weekend inspiration?
Hertfordshire are partners in a great tool for parents. A list of 50 fun things to do with your child before they turn 5. There are lots of great ideas to do as a family or with friends. Maybe you can try some over the half-term? If you do, don't forget to take photos and upload them to Evidence Me. That way we can ask your childrne to tell us all about the fun they have had.
You can download it as an app, or use the web based version, either way it is a great resource for ideas of fun activities to do together.
Please see the link here: https://hertfordshire.50thingstodo.org/app/os#!/welcome for the web based version, or the document below for the app information.
Have fun!
Snow Day Ideas...
There are lots of different things you can do on a snow day. Below is a list of just a few.
1 Build a snowman - Don't forget they will need eys, nose, mouth, arms...what will you use?
2 Make patterns in the snow - this will help with mark making and writing skills.
3 Make a snow castle (just like a sand castle but colder!) and decorate it.
4 Make footprints with family and compare the sizes of your shoes and boots. Who has the smallest? The biggest? The middle sized? (can you find any footprints from birds or animals?)
5 Investigate melting! Find some containers to put snow in and put them in different places, inside, outside, wrapped up outside. Which melts the fastest? slowest? What happens when snow melts?
6 Find some snowflakes - can you find 2 the same?
7 Make some snowflakes - here is a simple tutorial How to make a simple snowflake
8 Describe the snow - What does it feel like?
9 Make some hot chocolate with a grown-up - What do you have to do? Can you describe the steps to someone so they could do the same?
10 HAVE FUN!
Whatever you do in the snow today, we would love to see pictures! Please upload any to Evidence Me and we can look at them together when we are back in class.