Weekly Makaton signs: Hello, Goodbye and Thank you

Tuesday - End of term trip to Avon Valley Adventure park, some of whom it was their last trip with us, as soon off to pastures new and their respective schools.  Lots of animals to see, pig races, horse and cart rides, miniature train rides, tractor rides and a big adventure playground with death slides.  Thank you to everyone who joined us parents, children and siblings for making it special and the rain held off too.
Lots of practice continuing in preparation for our sports day.
Thursday - no forest school, but a trip to the new keynsham fire station.  We got to see where they cook their breakfast and watch TV whilst waiting for the alarm to go off, but wait what's that? the bells are ringing the fax machine is printing off instructions as to where the fire is and its at the preschool, quick to the pole, to the fire engines, everyone in the back and buckle up.  The children got to try on the uniform and helmet they smelled smoky.  Got to see lots of equipment such as cutters, hoses, breathing apparatus and got to use and spray water.  Watch out Lynne, even got to run around in the puddles we had all helped to create.  Once back we had lunch at our outdoor area and stayed and played.

Weekly Makaton Signs: Good, Hello, Thank you

Making medals ready for our sports day which is fast approaching, lots of creative ideas.
Finishing off the transition books, putting photos of our recent school visits, which the children seem to have really enjoyed.  Having stories read, making puppets and necklaces, with their new teachers.
Splish splash, the weather was so nice one afternoon that we got the splash pool out, just about everyone decided to give it a go, this is what summers about.
Thursday Forest Club - a small number of children today as most of the older children were on visits to their schools.  It was great to see those that were left how they made up their own games, helped one another on the tyre swings, supported each other as they climbed trees and fought the dragons hiding in the woods.  It was good we had our very own knight to protect us all.  Some of our friends did come back to join us after school visit, as it was our last forest school session due to us visiting the fire station next week.
Parachute games, everyone has to listen or the games do not work.  This is a really good way to teach those to listen and it shows up who is not listening.  After a while everyone was listening and following the instructions given.  Sometimes its really tricky, but when you have your friends around you to remind you, it works when we all work together.  Gentle waves, to stronger.  Rolling a ball around so as it does not fall off and how high can we make the ball jump.  Finally on the count of 3 everyone open your hands to let go, to see where the parachute lands.

Weekly Makaton Signs: Hello, Good, Thank you

Yoga - Come On Daisy - now the children can tell the story all by themselves.  How Daisy gets lots because she is too busy playing with the dragonflies and the frog, but the frog is gone.  Daisy is all alone, where is Mamma duck.  Time for sad faces everyone.  How is Daisy feeling now, scared, frightened, lonely, sad, upset, crying.  Oh dear what could make Daisy happy again? finding Mamma duck.  Good descriptive words, great facial expressions and a good understanding of the story.  Excellent.  

Lots of scooting around, sharing, showing our friends how it is done, helping one another, oh and the odd race thrown in.

Transition - we have been looking, with the older children at the pictures of their new schools and talking about things that they are looking forward to or perhaps a little worried of.  These transition books will be sent home with the children at a later date, which will then give the opportunity for these to be revisited during the long summer break.

Forest School
Talked lots about staying safe when we are at forest club - ask children what they need to look out for - lots of bashing down stinging nettles in our pathways, taking it in turns remembering to stay safe.  We visited the allotments in the afternoon and dug over our veg patch but the slugs and snails feasted on our borage and beans we had planted!  Stanton Drew starters visited school, they had a tour of the rooms and met the teachers.  They joined in playtime and then played with puzzles and toys before having a story.

On Friday Pensford Primary reception teacher Mrs Rawlinson visited and joined in our play to get to know those children that will be starting there in September.