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Settling Back Into Nursery After the Christmas Break

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:35:44 GMT

Christmas really is the most magical time of year, sparkling lights, precious family moments, cuddly mornings, late bedtimes, and lots of excitement! With all that festive fun, it’s completely natural for little routines to slip a bit (and that’s all part of the joy!).

As we get ready to welcome your child back to Nursery, we are buzzing with excitement for a brand-new term filled with discovery, friendship, and comforting routine. To help your little one ease back in after the holidays, we’ve put together a few gentle tips that can make the transition smooth, happy, and confidence-boosting.

1. Gently Reintroduce Routines

Christmas tends to bring later nights, pyjama mornings, and lots of spontaneous adventures! A few days before returning, easing back into earlier bedtimes and familiar morning steps, getting dressed, breakfast, packing their bag, can really help children feel settled and ready for the fun ahead.

2. Chat About Nursery in a Positive Way

Sprinkle some excitement by reminding your child of the things they love at nursery, friends, their key person, favourite toys, and the activities they enjoy. These little reminders help build anticipation and reassure them about returning.

3. Share Your Festive Fun With Us

We LOVE hearing all about your little one’s Christmas magic! Whether it's a new toy, a family adventure, or a funny moment, any stories or photos you share help us connect with their experiences and weave them into their play and conversations at nursery.

4. A Little Clinginess Is Completely Normal

After a cosy Christmas filled with extra family time, it’s very normal for children to feel a little wobbly at drop-off. Extra cuddles, holding on tightly, or even a few tears are all part of the process. A warm, confident, and quick goodbye often helps them settle beautifully once they’re inside with us.

5. Comfort Items Are Welcome

If a small soft toy, blanket, or family photo helps your child feel secure, they are more than welcome to bring it. That familiar touch can work wonders during the first few days back.

6. Keep Evenings Soft and Calm

The first week back can feel exciting, but also a little tiring! Relaxing evenings, simple activities, and earlier nights help little bodies and minds regulate after a full day of play, learning, and socialising again.

7. Stay Connected With Us

We’re here for you just as much as we are for your child. If you notice anything at home or just want to chat about how your child is settling, please speak to us at drop-off, pick-up, or get in touch anytime. Working together ensures your child feels secure, happy, and understood.

A Bright & Happy Start to the New Year

January is bursting with new opportunities, new friendships, new skills, and lots of exciting adventures. With a little preparation at home and our warm environment here at Nursery, most children settle back in quicker than you might think.

Here’s to a great start of 2026 and the new term!

Wrap-Around Care That Helps Families Find Balance

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 13:02:42 GMT

Family life is rewarding ... and busy. Between school runs, work commitments, and the general pace of the week, it can sometimes feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. At CK Club we’re here to lighten the load.

We provide wrap-around and holiday childcare for children aged 3-11, offering a safe and supportive space for children to enjoy themselves, while parents take care of work and life.

Flexible Care That Works With Your Routine

Every family’s week looks different, and we’ve shaped CK Club to support that. We’re open before school, after school, and throughout the holidays (including inset days), giving parents options that genuinely help.

During the school holidays, we run a full day from 7:30am until 6:00pm, giving children plenty of time to play, explore and relax. Holiday club days are £30 per day, and include breakfast, a mid-morning snack and a light tea. We just ask that children bring a packed lunch to keep them fuelled for the fun.

CK Club is open to children aged 3-11 years. For our youngest children (ages 3-5), they need to already attend Kneesall C of E Primary School, and for those joining us from other local schools, we welcome children from 5-11 years.

Booking is simple:

If you need regular wrap-around care, a quick registration form gets everything set up. For more occasional support, you can book ad-hoc sessions through the Pebble app once you’re registered, ideal for those last-minute schedule changes we all face from time to time.

A Fun and Welcoming Place to Be

Children thrive when they feel comfortable, inspired, and free to be themselves, and that’s exactly the environment we’ve created at CK Club. Some children charge straight into group games and outdoor play the second they arrive, full of energy and ideas. Others prefer to take a moment, have a snack, and settle into a quieter activity like drawing or reading. We make space for both… and everything in between.

No two afternoons look the same here. One day might be filled with crafts and team challenges, the next might involve building dens, getting stuck into construction toys, or heading outside for fresh-air fun. And when the holidays roll around, that’s when we turn things up a notch with exciting themed days.

We’re here all year round (except bank holidays), offering a place where children can play, grow, and just enjoy being young.

A Team You Can Trust

When parents hand over the school bag and say goodbye for the day, they’re placing a huge amount of trust in us, and we never take that lightly. Your child’s safety, wellbeing, and happiness always come first at CK Club.

Our team is fully DBS-checked, trained, and experienced… but just as importantly, they’re warm, caring people who genuinely love what they do. They take the time to get to know each child, their personality, their favourite games, what makes them laugh, what helps them feel at ease.

One of our favourite moments is when a parent arrives for pick-up and hears,
“Already? Can I stay a bit longer?”
It’s the biggest compliment, and a sign they feel safe, happy, and fully engaged in what they’re doing.

Join Our CK Club Community

We’d love to welcome your family. If you’d like more information or are ready to book a place:

Get in touch
Arrange a visit
Ask us anything, we’re here to help

Together, we can make busy days feel easier and give children an after-school and holiday experience they’ll really enjoy.

When Is the Best Time to Introduce Your Child to Nursery?

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:38:39 GMT

Choosing when to send your child to nursery is one of the biggest decisions parents make, and it can come with a mix of emotions.

Whether your baby is just a few months old, your toddler is finding their feet, or your little one is preparing for school and has never been before, it is completely normal to wonder when the time is right.

At Country Kids Nurseries, we know there is no single answer, only what is right for your family. Every child develops in their own way, and every family has their own story.

Some parents are returning to work, some are self-employed and need time to focus on their business, and others may simply feel ready to do something for themselves again. Some families have relatives helping with childcare, while others have taken several years off to be at home. Every situation is different, and every choice is valid.

Our nurseries are here to support families at every stage of that journey, from those first cuddles to those confident steps towards school.

Starting Nursery Early – From Babies to Toddlers

Many parents begin to think about nursery as they prepare to return to work after maternity or paternity leave, often when their little one is between 9 and 12 months old. For some families, that decision comes even earlier, especially if childcare is needed from around 3 to 6 months.

At Country Kids, our baby rooms are calm, nurturing spaces where every moment matters, from soft sensory play to story time cuddles. Each child has a dedicated key worker, offering that familiar face and gentle care they need to feel secure and settled.

Early nursery experiences help babies:

Develop strong, trusting bonds outside the family
Build early communication through songs, smiles, and play
Gain confidence and curiosity in exploring new environments
Establish healthy daily routines around eating, sleeping, and playing

And for parents, it can be reassuring to know that while you are focusing on work or other commitments, your little one is thriving in a warm, loving space that feels like a home from home.

Toddlers on the Move – Building Confidence and Curiosity

For many families, the toddler years feel like a natural time to start nursery, around 18 months to 2 years old. At this stage, children are eager to explore, socialise, and test their independence.

At Country Kids Nurseries, our toddler rooms and outdoor spaces are designed to spark curiosity. We mix messy play, outdoor adventures, and group activities to help children develop important life skills such as sharing, communicating, and problem-solving, all while having fun.

We see daily how these experiences help toddlers grow in confidence, preparing them beautifully for their preschool years ahead.

Starting Nursery Later – Preparing for School

Some children don’t attend nursery until the year before they start school, and that is perfectly okay too. There are so many reasons families wait, home care, grandparents helping out, or simply wanting to enjoy those early years together.

If your child is starting nursery for the first time at three or four years old, they will still gain so much from the experience. It gives them the chance to:

Build confidence away from home
Form friendships with children their own age
Learn gentle routines like snack time, tidy-up time, and group play
Strengthen speech, listening, and self-care skills

Our preschool sessions at Country Kids focus on school readiness in a way that feels natural, through stories, outdoor learning, and imaginative play, so that children head off to school with big smiles and even bigger confidence.

Government-Funded Hours – Making Nursery More Accessible

From nine months old, many working parents are now eligible for up to 30 hours of government-funded childcare. This support has made it easier than ever for families to access high-quality early education without the full financial pressure.

At Country Kids Nurseries, we help families understand and access their funded hours, making the process as simple as possible. Whether you are using just your funded entitlement or topping it up with additional sessions, we work with you to create a plan that fits your child’s routine and your family’s schedule.

Funded hours can be used flexibly across the week, and our team is always happy to talk through how this can work for you.

When Most Families Join – January, April, and September

While we welcome new children throughout the year, we often see the biggest number of new starters in January, April, and September. These months align with the main nursery term dates and when most government-funded hours begin.

Starting in one of these terms can be helpful if you prefer your child to settle in alongside other new starters, creating a shared sense of excitement and discovery. However, we know that family life does not always follow a term timetable, and we are always happy to welcome new children at any point in the year.

Whether you join us mid-term, mid-year, or right at the start of a new chapter, your child will always be given the same warm welcome, patient support, and gentle settling-in process.

Every Family’s Journey Is Different

There is no right or wrong time to start nursery, only the time that feels right for you and your child.

We work closely with families to make that transition smooth and reassuring. Whether you are joining us for a few mornings a week or full days, we tailor our care to your child’s personality and your family’s needs. Our aim is to make nursery feel like a natural extension of home life.

You will always be part of the journey too, with regular updates, photos, and honest communication to keep you connected to your little one’s world while you are apart.

Thinking about nursery for your little one?
Come and visit one of our Country Kids Nurseries to see our cosy rooms, outdoor spaces, and meet our wonderful team, who care for our children like their own.

Why We Choose a Topic of the Month

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:34:58 GMT

If you’ve been with us a while, you’ll know we always have a Topic of the Month. It might be minibeasts, harvest, farm animals or something as big as waste & environment. But why do we do it, and why do we change it?

Creating a rhythm children enjoy

Children often feel happiest when there’s a little structure in their days. Having one theme for a whole month gives them that sense of security. They start to recognise the stories we tell, the songs we sing, and the games we repeat in different ways. At the same time, every week brings something new, so there’s always a little surprise woven in. You can see their confidence build as they grow more familiar with the theme.

Real life, right in front of us

The topics we choose aren’t random, they’re inspired by the real world the children are surrounded by.

If the tractors are busy in the fields, it makes sense to talk about harvest. When hedgehogs are finding places to hibernate, we’ll share hedgehog tales and look for signs outside. If it rains for days on end, then puddles become the perfect theme, splashing in them, floating leaves or sticks, and even measuring how deep they are turns into real science in action.

By choosing what’s happening around us, the children see how learning links with their everyday lives.

We also like to introduce themes that some children may never come across at home. For example, little ones who don’t live on or near a farm might never experience harvest first-hand, it may simply never come up in conversation outside of nursery. Our themes open doors to new experiences and give children the chance to explore things that might otherwise pass them by.

Looking at things from every angle

Spending a whole month on one idea means we can explore it from lots of different directions. Take minibeasts as an example. One week we might be bug hunting, another week we’re making caterpillar crafts, and another we’re learning about bees and why they matter so much. Bit by bit, the children build a bigger picture, and soon they’re spotting minibeasts in their gardens, on walks, or even on their shoes!

Following the seasons (and the world)

Nature has a way of setting the pace for us. In spring we might plant seeds, in autumn we talk about harvest, in winter we notice stars and night-time as the days get shorter. Sometimes we tie in with national or global events too, so children feel connected to the wider world. It all keeps our learning rooted in what’s really happening around us.

So many adventures from one theme

A single theme can lead to a whole variety of activities. A focus on apples might mean tasting different kinds, baking crumble, using apples for painting, singing apple songs, or heading out on a walk to find them. One simple idea becomes the spark for endless play, stories, crafts, outdoor exploring and even food.

And of course, whilst we always start with a clear topic, we are also extremely invested in “in the moment planning.” That means following the children’s interests as they arise. The topic gives us a great foundation for adult-led activities and learning, but if a completely different idea sparks from a conversation at arrival or during play, our experienced practitioners will follow it. We might begin with our topic book and end up learning about something completely different! This balance keeps learning exciting, meaningful, and child-led.

Families come along too

One of our favourite things is when families tell us how the theme has carried on at home. A bedtime story about hedgehogs, planting bulbs together, or noticing tractors while out driving, it all connects back. Having a theme gives us all a shared thread to follow, so the learning doesn’t stop when the session ends.

We change themes because life changes

Just as the children are really starting to get confident with one theme, it’s time to move to the next. That change brings fresh excitement, new questions and different adventures. It mirrors the way life works, nothing stands still, and children are growing and changing all the time.

For us, a Topic of the Month is about more than just activities. It’s a way of pausing to notice what’s happening in the world around us, exploring it together, and then moving on to something new when the time feels right. It’s everyday life, woven into play and learning.

Caring for Younger Babies (3–12 Months): What Makes Our Approach Different

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 12:34:21 GMT

At Country Kids Day Nursery, we welcome babies from as young as 3 months old. We know that caring for younger babies is about so much more than bottles and nappies. It’s about creating trust, offering comfort, and providing a safe, loving space where every baby can thrive emotionally, physically and developmentally.

We don’t treat babies as a group. Each child is cared for as an individual, with their own rhythm, routine and personality. Whether your baby is just beginning to roll or starting to babble, our baby rooms are set up to nurture them through each stage of their first year with warmth, care and expert support.

Led by Specialist Baby Room Leaders

Each baby room is led by experienced baby room leaders who are specialists in early years care. They bring expert knowledge and a deep understanding of infant development, ensuring every child receives the best possible care tailored to their individual needs. These leaders support and guide our teams to provide nurturing, attentive, and highly personalised care every day.

A Calm, Cosy Start to Their Journey

Our baby rooms are calm, welcoming and designed to feel like a home away from home. With soft lighting, soothing colours, natural textures and gentle sounds, we create an environment that helps babies feel safe and settled. Spaces are kept intentionally uncluttered to avoid overstimulation and support peaceful exploration.

Each baby is matched with a dedicated key person who gets to know them deeply and becomes a safe, familiar presence throughout the day. This strong bond helps babies settle with confidence and feel secure when it’s time to say goodbye to their grown-ups.

We Follow Your Baby’s Lead

We don’t run by timetables in our baby rooms. We follow your baby’s individual routine and work closely with each family to reflect what’s already happening at home. No two babies nap, feed or play the same way, and we adapt our care to suit each child’s needs and comfort.

Whether they need a quiet cuddle, a one-to-one bottle feed, or some gentle play, your baby’s day is shaped around what works best for them.

Supporting Weaning with Care and Confidence

Weaning is an important milestone for both babies and parents, and we’re here to support this journey with a gentle, responsive approach that reflects your routine at home.

For babies under 12 months, parents provide all food, and we’re happy to assist with their weaning by offering a calm, consistent environment during mealtimes. While we do not supply meals for this age group, we ensure that any food sent in is prepared and served safely, following your instructions, with appropriate portion sizes and textures.

A World of Gentle Learning and First Experiences

Even the youngest babies are learning every day. Our baby rooms are filled with sensory-rich experiences to encourage safe exploration and support early development in a calm, pressure-free way.

We focus on building motor skills through grasping, reaching and movement. We support early language development with songs, stories and simple conversations. And we foster social connection through cuddles, eye contact and shared smiles.

Every activity is carefully considered to balance freedom with gentle encouragement, so each baby can grow and develop at their own pace.

Rooted in Values That Matter

At Country Kids, we want our tiniest children to grow into caring, compassionate, curious, worldly and wise individuals. We believe these values start taking shape from the very beginning. From learning to share and discovering kindness, to taking joy in new experiences, every early interaction matters.

Across all our nurseries, we create environments where babies feel safe, heard and understood. We offer Montessori-inspired play, opportunities for rest and reflection, and healthy, balanced meals that support wellbeing and independence. Babies are encouraged to make choices, lead their own learning and begin to understand how their actions affect the world around them.

Evolving Environments That Inspire Curiosity

All of our nurseries are in the process of developing beautifully calming, curiosity-inspired environments. With natural, open-ended resources and homely touches, our baby rooms are becoming even more enchanting spaces where little ones can explore, discover and grow with confidence.

We’re just as proud of our outdoor spaces as we are of our indoor ones. Babies can enjoy fresh air, nature and age-appropriate exploration outside every day. All of our nurseries are accessible, and we welcome any questions you may have about how we support children with additional needs.

Come and See the Baby Room for Yourself

Choosing a nursery for your baby is a big decision. We’re here to make sure you feel completely at ease.

We'd love you to come and visit your local Country Kids Day Nursery, meet our team and experience first-hand what makes our baby rooms such a special place to begin your child’s journey.

Staff to Child Ratios Matter at Country Kids Nursery

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:16:32 GMT

When you leave your little one in our care, we know you’re putting your trust in us and that’s something we never take lightly.

At Country Kids Nursery, every decision we make is guided by one core priority, keeping your child/ren safe, supported and happy throughout their day with us. One of the most important ways we do that is by following the correct staff-to-child ratios in each of our rooms.

These ratios aren’t just numbers on a policy sheet. They help us create a nurturing environment where every child is seen, heard and given the individual care they deserve. From a comforting cuddle to celebrating milestones, having the right number of trained staff in each space makes all the difference.

In our Baby Room
Caring for our tiniest little ones takes time, comfort and attention. That’s why we always ensure there is one member of staff for every three babies. This gives our team the space to build strong bonds with each child, support early development and meet their needs with calm, consistent care.

Whether it’s feeding time, naps or play, we’re always close by and fully focused.

In our Toddler Room
At this age, children are curious, on the move and learning at a rapid pace. With one adult for every five toddlers, we’re able to offer the right mix of structure, freedom and encouragement.

Our team supports language development, social interaction and early independence while making sure every child feels safe and seen throughout their day.

In our Preschool Room
As children grow, so does their confidence and imagination. In our preschool room, the legal ratio is one adult for every eight children, and we always meet this as a minimum. This allows our team to guide children through fun, engaging learning activities while preparing them for their next big step into school.

It’s about building resilience, boosting confidence and helping each child feel ready and excited for what’s ahead.

Led with Care from the Top
Behind every calm, well-run room is a leadership team that puts careful planning and wellbeing first. Our experienced nursery managers work closely with the wider team to make sure every shift is fully covered, and every room has the right number of skilled practitioners in place.

Supporting them is our Nursery Group Director, Sarah, who brings years of expertise and a real passion for childcare. She’s involved in every part of how we manage our nurseries, including staffing levels and training. Sarah puts it best:

"Ratios are about more than ticking boxes, they’re about keeping children safe and giving staff the time to really connect with every child in their care. At Country Kids, we plan well in advance and always build in extra support where it’s needed. It’s something we’ll never compromise on."

Your Child’s Safety is Our Priority
We regularly review our staffing, invest in team development and make sure we’re always ready to meet each child’s individual needs.

At Country Kids, it’s not just about meeting guidelines. It’s about giving children the best possible start in life with the support and attention they deserve every step of the way.

If you’d like to see how we do things day to day, please book a tour at your chosen nursery site here Book Your Space Online | Country Kids Nursery

Let’s Talk Toilets: How We Support Toilet Training at Country Kids Nursery

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:06:54 GMT

Toilet training isn’t always straightforward, and that’s okay. Every child takes this step in their own time, and here at Country Kids Nursery, we’re with you for the ups, the accidents, and everything in between.

Whether your child is curious about the potty or confidently running to the toilet, our team is here to support your family every step of the way. We believe toilet training is a team effort – and it works best when we’re working closely with you.

We Work With You, Not Against the Clock

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to toilet training and no set timeline for when a child will be ready. That said, we do aim to support every child in becoming fully toilet trained before they move on to their chosen primary school.

Some parents come to us and say, “We’ve started trying at home, can we do the same here?” Others haven’t started yet, but we might spot the signs that their little one is nearly ready.

No matter who starts the conversation, you or us, we treat it as a shared plan. We’ll talk through what’s been working, what hasn’t, and what we can try together.

Our goal is always the same: to build your child’s confidence at their own pace, in a calm and positive environment.

In Our Toddler Room

This is often where it all begins. When toddlers start staying dry for longer, showing interest in their friends’ toilet habits, or telling us when they’re wet or dirty, that’s our cue to gently introduce the idea of using the potty.

Here’s how we support them:

Keep potties visible and accessible
Build toilet time into their daily routine
Celebrate effort, not just success
Encourage, never pressure
Communicate with parents every step of the way

And of course, we share everything with you, from “He had a little sit on the potty today!” to “Oops, an accident, but we’re proud of the try!”

In Our Preschool Room

By the time children move into Preschool, many are starting to become more independent. Our focus here is on building confidence and supporting those final steps.

We:

Help children pull trousers up and down independently
Promote handwashing after every visit
Encourage them to listen to their body’s signals
Stay calm and positive, because accidents still happen!

How You Can Help at Home

Toilet training works best when your child feels supported both at nursery and at home. Here are a few tips to help things along:

Keep it consistent: If we’re trying it here, try it at home too
Choose easy-on clothing: Elastic waistbands make things easier
Celebrate the little wins: Every step counts
Build toilet time into routines: Like after meals or before going out
Reassure, don’t rush: Progress looks different for every child

Using Holidays & Bank Holidays to Get Started

We also encourage families to make use of holidays or long weekends to introduce toilet training. A few quiet days at home, with no big outings or distractions, can make a real difference. It gives your child a chance to focus on toilet times without the busy stimulation of nursery.

Term-time-only children often find this especially helpful. We see more success when children have had a bit of practice at home before trying it in our learning-packed nursery day.

When They Begin Toilet Training at Nursery

Once they start training with us, our staff gently guide them through the process. We often take them to the toilet every 30–60 minutes at first, even if they’re not showing signs, this helps reduce accidents and creates a habit.

We also ask that parents send in plenty of spare pants and trousers. It’s completely normal for children to need a few changes while they’re learning – and that’s absolutely okay!

What About Poo on the Potty?

This can feel like a big step and it’s not unusual for children to feel unsure or avoid doing a poo on the potty or toilet.

Some of our favourite tips for this include:

Distractions: Sitting with a book while they wait can help
Bubbles or party blowers: These help children engage their stomach muscles naturally, which can relax their bodies enough to go

This can take time, and that’s perfectly normal. We’re here to support, encourage and make the experience as relaxed as possible.

Let’s Chat About It

If you’re unsure whether your child is ready, or you’d like to create a toilet training plan together, just speak to your child’s Key Person. We’re always happy to chat and work together in a way that feels right for your child and your family.

You can also find great guidance from the NHS here: How to potty train – NHS

How We Keep Children Safe at Nursery: Safeguarding Policies & Practices

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 10:44:52 GMT

At Country Kids Day Nurseries, your child’s safety and wellbeing are our top priority. With over 80% of our team being parents themselves, we deeply understand how important it is for you to feel completely confident leaving your child in someone else’s care.

That’s why our nurseries are more than just places to learn and play, they are nurturing, secure environments where every child is cared for, protected, and supported through every stage of their development.

Safeguarding That’s Central to Our Practice

Our safeguarding procedures are thorough, up to date, and central to everything we do. Every member of our team holds an enhanced DBS check and completes regular safeguarding training. This ensures they are confident in recognising signs of harm, knowing how to act swiftly, and always prioritising children’s safety.

Each nursery site has a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), typically the nursery manager, who has undergone DSL training provided by the local council. Our managers also attend termly DSL networking sessions to stay updated on the latest legislation and guidance. Where possible, additional staff at each setting are DSL-trained too, so there’s always a safeguarding expert available.

We work closely with local safeguarding partners and have an open-door policy for parents.

Going Above and Beyond with Visitor Safety

Our visitor policy is something we’re particularly proud of and we go the extra mile. All contractors are ID checked, and every visitor, even those booked in for show arounds or interviews, must provide valid identification before entering the building.

If someone arrives without ID, we do refuse entry, no exceptions. This even includes existing staff from other nursery sites, who must show ID on arrival to confirm they’re part of our group. It’s this level of care that helps us maintain a consistent standard of security across all locations.

Health & Safety That’s Built Into Our Culture

Health and safety aren’t just a box we tick, it’s part of our day-to-day culture. Every new staff member receives Health and Safety training as part of their induction. Managers receive tailored leadership-level training to ensure that they can oversee all risk management effectively.

Our Managing Director, Jeanette, brings additional expertise to the table, she is NEBOSH qualified and has a strong background in Health and Safety Law. This enhances not only our health and safety standards but also helps us ensure our policies and procedures are robust, relevant, and regularly reviewed.

We carry out ongoing risk assessments and safety checks in all areas of the nursery, from garden gates to kitchen cupboards.

Safe Spaces Designed for Children

Our rooms and outdoor areas are designed to be safe, welcoming, and age appropriate. We carefully balance freedom of play with supervision and structure to support children's development while minimising risk.

Hygiene, Health & First Aid

Cleanliness is another cornerstone of how we keep children safe. Our nurseries follow rigorous cleaning schedules, with staff trained in infection control, food hygiene, and handwashing routines.

All of our team are trained in Paediatric First Aid, and we have clear procedures in place for allergies, medication, and dietary needs to ensure every child’s health is managed with care and precision.

A Team That’s Supported to Succeed

We don’t just hire qualified staff, we support them to grow. Our teams regularly complete updated safeguarding, SEND, and child development training. We invest in professional development and have clear pathways for career progression.

We believe childcare is a vocation and that means we look for people who genuinely love what they do and care deeply about the children in their rooms. That passion is what drives our team, and we work hard to nurture it.

A Culture of Openness and Support

From leadership to apprentice level, we encourage an open, transparent culture. Staff are supported to speak up, share ideas, and raise concerns. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Supporting Families with Confidence and Care

We know it’s a huge step to hand your child over to someone else’s care and we never take that for granted. We’re here to make that process feel safe, positive, and empowering for you and your child.

We’d love to welcome you to one of our settings and show you how our commitment to safeguarding and wellbeing is brought to life, every single day.

�� Visit: www.countrykidsnursery.com/book-online
�� Or get in touch with your nearest nursery team to learn more.

How our SENCO helps all children thrive at Country Kids Day Nurseries

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 16:30:12 GMT

How our SENCO helps all children thrive at Country Kids Day Nurseries

How Our SENCO Helps All Children Thrive at Country Kids Day Nurseries

At Country Kids Nurseries, we believe every child deserves the chance to feel confident, capable, and included. We also recognise our responsibility to provide the right support for children who may need a little extra help.

That’s why each of our nurseries has a dedicated Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to ensure all children, including those with additional needs, are supported, understood, and able to grow in a way that’s right for them.

What is SENCO?

A SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) is a trained specialist who plays a vital role in supporting children with additional needs, working closely with families and staff to ensure every child gets the best possible start in life.

Our SENCOs are the heart of our inclusive approach. They’re the people who:

Identify any developmental or learning concerns early on
Coordinate support tailored to your child’s individual needs
Work in partnership with parents and carers to create a clear, supportive plan
Liaise with professionals, such as speech and language therapists, health visitors, or local SEND services, to ensure the right help is in place
Train and support our nursery teams to adapt and include every child in a way that works best for them

Supporting Every Child Across Our Nurseries

Whether your child is just starting to talk, exploring the world through sensory play, or learning to navigate social interactions, our team is here to support their journey.

Across all of our Country Kids Nursery settings, we work hard to create a welcoming and nurturing environment where children of all abilities can grow in confidence, build friendships, and learn through play.

We understand that early years are a time of rapid development, and for some children, this may come with a few extra challenges. That’s why our SENCOs are proactive in spotting signs of additional needs and work hand in hand with families to put the right support in place early.

The Role of the Wellcomm Assessment

As part of our early support strategy, all Country Kids Nurseries use the Wellcomm Toolkit, a nationally recognised resource for assessing children’s speech and language development.

This assessment is carried out for all children over the age of two, either when they join our nursery or when they transition into our toddler rooms. While many nurseries do not use Wellcomm due to its high cost, we’ve chosen to invest in it across all our settings because we know just how vital early communication is.

The assessment itself is simple, child-friendly, and play-based, designed to highlight any areas where a child may benefit from extra help with their speech, language, or understanding.

Once the assessment is complete, our SENCOs share the results with parents and, if needed, put a clear plan in place. For children who may need additional support, our SENCOs run small-group intervention sessions (usually over a period of nine weeks) to build language skills, boost confidence, and create strong foundations for learning.

These sessions are gentle, engaging, and tailored to the individual needs of each child. They not only support communication but also help children feel more confident in expressing themselves and connecting with others.

A Tailored Approach

We don’t believe in a one size fits all approach. Instead, we build individual support plans that reflect each child’s personality, interests, and learning style. Whether it's offering quieter spaces, adapting activities to suit different learning needs, or using visuals and sensory tools, we tailor our approach to help every child thrive.

Our rural, nature-inspired ethos also plays a big role in this. Many of the children we support benefit greatly from outdoor play, sensory-rich environments, and small group interactions, all of which are part of everyday life at Country Kids.

Working Together with You

We know that discovering your child might need extra support can sometimes feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Our SENCOs are here not just for the children, but for the families too.

We’re here to listen, to guide, and to celebrate every little milestone with you. Whether you have concerns, questions, or just need someone to talk to, we’re here.

Giving Children the Best Start

At Country Kids Nurseries, we believe every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and celebrated. With the right support, all children can flourish and with our passionate SENCOs by their side, they do.

If you’d like to learn more about how we support additional needs across our nurseries, or you’d like to speak to one of our SENCOs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Book a visit to one of our nurseries here .

Funding from September 2025

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:01:31 GMT

Everything you need to know about what funding is available from September 2025

Everything You Need to Know About 30 Funded Nursery Hours – Coming This September!

As a parent, finding the right childcare that balances affordability and quality can feel overwhelming. But there's great news! From September 2025, working parents of children aged 9 months and older will be entitled to 30 funded nursery hours, making high-quality early education more accessible than ever.

At Country Kids Day Nursery, we're excited to welcome more families into our nurturing environment where children can learn, play, and thrive.

What Are Funded Hours and Who Is Eligible?

From September, the government is expanding its funded childcare scheme to support more working parents. If you have a child aged 9 months or older and meet the eligibility criteria, you can access up to 30 funded hours per week during term time.

To qualify, you must:

Be a working parent (both parents in a two-parent household, or the single working parent in a one-parent household).
Earn at least £8,670 per year (for each parent) but no more than £100,000 individually.
Have a child aged 9 months or older by September 2025.

This initiative is designed to make it easier for families to manage work and childcare, ensuring children have access to early education while parents can continue to work with peace of mind.

How Do the 30 Funded Hours Work?

The 30 funded hours are available for 38 weeks of the year (term time), totalling 1,140 hours annually. Some nurseries, including Country Kids, offer the option to stretch these hours over the full year, meaning you could receive fewer hours per week but for a longer duration, helping with all-year-round childcare needs.

Important Note: Funded hours do not cover additional costs such as meals, snacks, or extra activities. We aim to keep costs transparent and affordable while ensuring your child receives the best possible care. As the funded hours from the government only cover the basic needs, all the wonderful extra's we provide at nursery do come at a cost and are available for parents to opt-in to. Nursery managers can explain all about our amazing package here at Country Kids Day Nursery during a show around tour.

How Do I Apply?

Applying for funded hours is simple:

Visit www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare and check your eligibility.
Apply for your unique code – you'll need to reconfirm eligibility every 3 months.
Provide your code to Country Kids, and we'll take care of the rest!

Why Choose Country Kids Newark?

We know that choosing a nursery is about more than just funding – it's about finding a place where your child feels happy, safe, and encouraged to grow.

At Country Kids Nurseries, we offer:

A home-from-home environment where children feel secure and loved.
Engaging activities that support learning through play, creativity, and exploration.
Beautiful outdoor spaces for active adventures and fresh air.
Highly qualified, caring staff dedicated to every child's development.
Flexible funding options to suit different family needs.

With the introduction of 30 funded hours for younger children, demand is higher than ever! If you'd like to secure a place for your little one at Country Kids Nursery Group, get in touch today.

Arrange a visit and see why we're the perfect choice for your family here or email us for more information on how the funding works.

We can't wait to welcome you and your child to the Country Kids Nursery family!

Country Kids Nursery | Financial Help for Parents

websitebuilder@yell.com — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 08:38:31 GMT

Did you know, if you have a child aged 3 - 4 years old, up until October 2020 you will be able to receive 30 hours of free childcare and tax-free childcare, even if your income has dropped due to COVID-19?!

These government schemes usually require working parents to earn at least minimum wage for 16 hours a week for the next 3 months for them to qualify, however, HMRC have now confirmed that eligible parents whose income has fallen due to COVID-19 will now continue to receive this support until October 31st 2020.

Key workers with income that exceeds the maximum threshold of £100,000 for the 2020/2021 tax year for the same reason will also be eligible.

Here are some of the ways in which you can get help with funding:

- Parents of 3 and 4 year old children can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify for this, you must usually work at least 16 hours a week at minimum wage, and earn less than £100,000 a year.

- If your employer offers childcare vouchers you can use this to pay towards your childcare fees. Here at Country Kids Day Nursery we are proud to offer discounts to NHS key workers, and those employed within the emergency services.

- Tax-free childcare is also available for children from working families and/or the self employed, for every £8 you put in, the government will add an extra £2. This means that parents can get up to the value of £2,000 per child each year, or £4,000 per disabled child each year in financial support. This money can be used towards the cost of childcare for your child up to the age of 11, or 17 for a disabled child.

- To receive tax-free childcare, or 30 hours of free childcare, you need to re-confirm your eligibility every 3 months through the GOV.uk website. If you have had changes made to your income, whether it’s decreased or increased, you should apply and re-confirm as usual.

If you have any questions regarding what you could be eligible for, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we are here to help!

Alternatively, if you would like to get your child’s place secured before October 31st please send our team a message, or book a viewing through our Facebook booking system. We look forward to seeing you!

Be a part of your child's early years development!

websitebuilder@yell.com — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 12:45:28 GMT

Did you know here at Country Kids Nursery we have an app called Parent Zone?

Early years in nursery are so important for the children’s development, and as a parent you don’t want to miss out on that. Everyday here at Country Kids Nursery we learn something new, and with activities logged on an app daily you’ll never miss a thing!

Parent Zone allows you to be involved with your child’s daily activities and learning whenever and wherever most convenient for you. Whether that’s photos of our lunch time snack or a new toy we love to play with in nursery, you’ll be sent regular updates to share our new learning experiences at Country Kids. This brilliant app allows you to write back leaving comments and notes too, and with social media being easily accessible, what better way to use it than to keep up with your child’s early years development when they’re at nursery.

Some of the other features Parent Zone offers are:

Add your own adventures:

Not only can you receive regular updates from nursery, but you can also add your own weekend adventures to the app for your key worker to see, sharing some of your favourite family memories. Whether you’ve spent the weekend baking, at the farm or on a bike ride with the family, we love to see all of your happy memories together. This will allow their key worker to engage in conversation with your child about their activities, improving their memory and communication skills.

Pay for fees:

Parent Zone is also used as a means to view invoices and pay for your fees in an easy, safe and accessible way. This is a great feature and means you’ll never have to worry about missing any payments due.

Request Extra Sessions:

Are you thinking that your children might need a few more sessions a week? Parent Zone has made it so much easier to request these extra sessions now, and just with a click of a button!

We love using Parent Zone here at Country Kids, as well as showing you all of the amazing things the children are learning on a daily basis, we believe that Parent Zone will also allow you to see the changes we are making to keep your children safe during COVID-19.

Nursery life after lockdown: What does it look like?

websitebuilder@yell.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 09:17:10 GMT

Nursery life after lockdown: What does it look like?

On June 1st, hundreds of nurseries re-opened their doors to their much missed children for the first time in 10 weeks which included 2 of our own sites, Kneesall and Newark. We were given just one week to put government measures in place, reach out to our parents and prepare nursery for re-opening. As a high quality childcare provider, our focus was of course to ensure that each child would be as safe as possible on their return to nursery, but also take into account how this could affect them emotionally.

I'm sure you will all agree with us here, that it is simply impossible to socially distance from any child under the age of 5. Although they can take in the information and do have some understanding, they do not yet have the capacity to remember to socially distance. The government guidance stated that as a nursery, we must have a small hub of children that stay with the same staff member all week. In addition to this, we were to spend as much time as we could outside and with this guidance, we started to look at what nursery life would look like upon our return.

Country Kids are incredibly lucky to have an exceptional group of staff who were willing to help shape our return and were eager to return to work. As our staff members have been having weekly zoom calls with their key children during the lock down period, it allowed our first day to be a little easier on the children as they still had their amazing bond with the staff members.

Drop off & Pick ups are one of the biggest changes within nursery. Each parent has a 5 minute time slot where one designated family member can drop off and collect the child for the foreseeable future. Children arrive and depart through the outdoor gates and are met by their key worker. The first day was a little unusual for the children but as the week has gone on, they find it really exciting to go straight into the outside play area!

Each hub of children have their own set of toys that are thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day. Following advice, sand play has been restricted so that each hub can play in the sand every couple of days. Country Kids have invested in extra shading at both sites to ensure the children can spend as much time outdoors as possible. Luckily, just before our return both sites had their outside area's revamped so the children had something really exciting to return to! In addition to this, each site has a brand new outside hand washing facility which has been fantastic. It has not only allowed hand washing upon arrival but also frequent hand washing throughout the day even whilst playing outside.

An additional member of staff has been brought in at each site to help with cleaning and to cover staff lunch breaks. This staff member is extremely vigilant with hand washing and input will be kept to a minimum. All other external providers such as Caterpillar Music and Tennis have been temporarily put on hold. Usually, we would chat to parents upon collection about their child's day however due to social distancing, we have decided to revert back to an app called i-connect. This allows the parents to receive real-time updates of what their child has been up to throughout the day including sleep times, nappy changes and what they have eaten.

All in all, our return to nursery has been extremely successful and we would like to thank our staff members, parents and children for being so fantastic and working with us to ensure our transition back to nursery was a positive experience for our children.

Looking for childcare in the Newark area? Check out the rest of our website, enquire about a place though our contact form here , or call us on:

Kneesall (A616) - 01623706100

Newark (Lincoln Road) - 01636370822

This is How: We make sensory rice!

websitebuilder@yell.com — Wed, 13 May 2020 13:49:55 GMT

This is How: We make sensory rice!

Sensory activities play a huge part in children's development. Not only are they super fun, but they also have lots of benefits. Sensory play is proven to help build nerve connections to the brain and really helps to improve their motor skills. Sensory play can also encourage language use and opens them up to problem solving skills.

We love to have lots of sensory activities in Country Kids and we always look for ways we can make these activities ourselves. Coloured sensory rice is ALWAYS a hit with our children, and is great for parents as it's quick and easy to make!

Here are the ingredients you will need:

Instructions

- Measure out 1 cup of your chosen rice and place it in your container. Here we have used mainly basmati. We used brown rice for the orange - it works but doesn't stain as well in our opinion.

- Add in the food colouring gel of your choice. Here we gave it a good squeeze, between 1/3 to 1/2 of the bottle. For the purple we mixed red and blue together.

- Add half a tablespoon of water. If you add too much water, the process will take longer to dry.

- Mix together with your son until the majority of the rice is covered.

- place on your lid or zip up your bag, and give your rice a good shake! 1-2 minutes is sufficient.

- Lay out your tin foil on a flat surface. We doubled up just to make sure there would be no stains on the worktop.

- Empty your rice out onto the foil and spread with your spoon evenly to allow to dry.

- Your rice should be dry in around an hour. If you use food colouring, it will take almost a day to dry (We trialled this and it took almost 14 hours to fully dry to touch!)

5 ways to enhance learning using sensory rice

- By creating lots of different colours, you can use the rice as an opportunity to look at different colours if your child is still learning

- You could add utensils such as grabbers, scoops or a pestle and mortar to target fine motor skills strengthening finger muscles

- Your child could help making sensory rice, and you could include weighing scales whilst playing to promote mathematical language

- You could use the rice to encourage your child to use their imaginations - what could they make?

- You could add your rice to a small bottle and glue on the lid. These are great for babies to discover and make noise with!

We hope you have lots of fun with your sensory rice!

- The Country Kids Team x

This is How: We do Squiggle while you wiggle

websitebuilder@yell.com — Wed, 06 May 2020 10:33:02 GMT

This is How: We do Squiggle while you wiggle

Question: What is Squiggle While You Wiggle?

Squiggle while you wiggle is a fantastic activity to engage children in developing the motions they need to learn in order to prepare them for writing. Squiggle while you wiggle is an activity to kickstart their journey in learning to write by doing circles, semi circles, horizonal lines and the vertical lines they will use to write a letter whilst dancing along to our favourite music.

It’s important to remember that children are not expected to write letters and their name until they attend school at the age of 5.

At Country Kids, this is something we strongly believe in and the children love when we do Squiggle while you wiggle! We focus on developing their gross and fine motor skills to imitate lines and circles in order to write each letter of the alphabet.

You will need:

Anything you can wave around in the air!

You can do Squiggle while you wiggle anywhere, with anything that can swish around.

In nursery, we like to use:

Scarves
Material
Shakers
Ribbons
Bamboo

If you are at home, you could use:

Cheerleading style Pom Pom's
Ties
Long socks
Tea towels

We like to add some music to our Squiggle while you wiggle, some of our particular favourites in nursery are:

Dolly Parton: 9-5
S Club 7: Reach
Tina Turner: Proud Mary

You can use any of your favourite 60s / 70s / 80s classics. The clue is in the title - they really do squiggle while they wiggle!

Now, let's get started!

The next part of this activity requires some adult led learning. It really doesn’t matter how silly you may feel, the more you squiggle, wiggle and have fun the more engaged the child will be in this activity.

1. Start by doing some big circles with your arms, you could do 5 one way and then 5 the opposite way.

To add some mathematical language, you could talk about clockwise and anticlockwise movements with older children. Then you could do some small circles with your wrists, again both ways.

2. Once you have done circles, you could draw lines reaching all the way to the top, and crouching all the way to the bottom, and touch the floor. These movements can go up and down, or side to side. Again, with older children you can really emphasise going left and right.

3. Next, we like to do some wavy lines, and dance around twirling around in a circle. The children are likely to do these motions to a couple of songs before they get tired or their arms hurt!

This activity is so simple but really is effective. We hope you have lots of fun trying Squiggle while you wiggle at home!

- The Country Kids Team x

This is How: We improve fine motor skills

websitebuilder@yell.com — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 14:40:15 GMT

This is How: We improve fine motor skills

Fine motor skills are something that will begin developing from when your child is a baby. The concept behind fine motor skills is the strengthening of smaller muscles (finger, hand, wrist etc) to prepare them for later in life. These skills are crucial for a child's development, helping them learn how to dress and undress themselves, learn how to write and also improves hand-eye coordination.

In nursery there are lots of activities we carry out to help improve a child's fine motor skills. Here are a list of some things you could try at home:

This is How: We prepare children for school

websitebuilder@yell.com — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 11:39:31 GMT

This is How: We prepare children for school

The transition between schools can be nerve-racking for not only the children, but for parents too. Many parents will be preparing their first child for school and will feel a little bit lost and thinking 'What do I need to do?'. Last Thursday, if you applied for your child to start school in September you will have found out if your child was accepted. Hopefully they were, if not you can speak with your child's key worker to receive some advice. At the moment, we are all in COVID-19 lockdown and taking each day as it comes. If we were in nursery, it is around this time we would start adding things in to nursery life to prepare our pre-schoolers for 'big school'.

Now, your child will not fully understand what 'big school' means and to process can seem a little daunting. There are a few things we do to ensure your child starts to understand what is to come, so the big day doesn't seem quite so hard.

1) Talk with your child about what school they are going to and what will happen at school. Talk about the journey to school, will you be walking or travelling in the car? You can tell them all about making new friends, just like the ones they have made at Country Kids. Remember to try and use lots of positive words, such as 'Your new friends are going to be wonderful' and 'You are going to have so much fun'. Allow your child to process this information slowly, and give them time to think and ask questions before moving on.

2) Read books to your child about starting school. Children will absorb the information from books like a sponge and you can read them over and over again so your child understands what happens in the books. Ask questions and allow your child time to think and answer the questions about what happens in the book. You can use language such as 'Wow, what an exciting adventure it was starting school. That will be you soon!'. A few books that you may be interested in are:

Harry and the Dinosaurs go to School - Ian Whybrow

I want my Mummy - Tracey Corderoy

I am Too Absolutely Small for school - Lauren Child

Starting School - Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Never Take a Bear to School - Mark Sperring

3) Set up a school role play area in the house. Usually, we would pick up some spare uniform and place this in our role play area for the children to explore. If you have older siblings that are already in your chosen primary school, you could use these to allow your child to become familiar with their new uniform. Country Kids introduced uniform a few months back which should already ease the change of wearing a school top and jumper. You could play teachers with your child, and use their teddy bears as pupils in their class. Together, you could make a register and make sure all of their teddies are attending class. You could teach your teddies how to make play dough, using our 'This is How: We make play dough' post. This will begin to familiarise your child on what is to come at 'big school'. (Another tip for uniform, when you do get uniform for your child, make sure everything is labelled! This will minimise the risk of losing items of uniform - children have a tendency to take off their jumpers and hide them in secret places. This will cost you a small fortune..!)

4) Promote independence at home. This is really a prime time for you to spend time with your child and allow them to learn how to do things themselves - you have all the time in the world! You can focus on things such as the child undressing and dressing themselves at morning and at night, and putting on their own socks (this is super tricky and might take a good few tries!). Whilst going on your daily walks, allow the child to put their own shoes on and give them time to work out which shoe goes on which foot. Most children will be expected to be fully potty trained by the time they go to school, and should be able to attend to toileting needs themselves. Something that I'm sure you are all experts on now is washing your hands. Your child should be able to wash and dry their own hands without support. This is a great opportunity for you to supervise your child, and show them how to reach all parts of their hands to get rid of the germs.

5) Number and Letter recognition. It's important to remember here that your child does NOT need to be able to write all their letters, numbers and be able to write their name. This is something school will focus on and your child will learn at their own pace. If they are already starting to write some letters, or recognise some numbers, you could try and do a couple of activities at home to improve on this. Read, Write, Inc is something we use in nursery to familiarise the children with letters in their name. For example, to write an 'a' we go around the apple and down the leaf. This is a fun way for your child to learn the letters in their name. Try simple ones first, and remember not to worry about capital letters just yet. There are a few fun ways you can practice writing letters:

- Good old pen and paper. You could use a pencil, or let them choose their favourite felt tip

- Flour. You can add flour to a plate and let them use their fingers to create letters or numbers. This is great as children love sensory activities and they can just try again and again using the same flour. This could be used with numerous things such as sand or whipped cream (definitely the tastier option).

- Pencil control sheets. In nursery, we try to avoid worksheets as much a possible but they are great for the child to concentrate on. You could print some off from the internet or you could make your own dot to dot letters, numbers and swirls for them to copy. Encourage them to hold their pen properly rather than with a full hand grasp. The more practice, the more they will get used to holding the pen this way.

- LingoKids. This is an app that you can download on your phone/iPad where the kids can trace the letters. It then follows this by using language such as 'c, c is for cat!'.

We really hope that these tips help and if you have any more questions or are struggling, please contact your key workers who are more than happy to help.

Stay safe everybody!

- The Country Kids Team

This is How: We make puffy paint

websitebuilder@yell.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 13:45:59 GMT

This is How: We make puff paint!

Within nursery, messy play and arts and crafts is something we thoroughly enjoy. We like to mix things up a bit and add some science and excitement into our paintings. Puff paint is something all children enjoy, from mixing together the ingredients to see it dry in 3D! Sometimes, we like to add this to a sensory tray so they can run it through their fingers, squeeze it and use lots of different utensils in it.

What will you need?

1/2 cup shaving foam

1/2 cup of glue

All you have to do is mix the two ingredients together! You can increase the measurements should you require more puff paint and you can also add food colouring to make different coloured paints.

Hints & Tips

- Wash out your jars and leave them to dry. Reusable jars are great for mixing up your colours - you can also save it for another day if it isn't all used up!

- Add pompoms, pipe cleaners, pasta and google eyes to make your own monsters!

- You don't just need to use this to paint with! Add a small amount to a plate and let them explore. For younger children, try making circles and lines in the paint with your peter pointers. For older children, try practising numbers and letters using read, write, ink. A - 'Around the apple and down the leaf'. Using sensory makes learning to write much more fun than pen and paper!

This is How: We make Cloud Dough!

websitebuilder@yell.com — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 13:14:04 GMT

This is How: We make Cloud Dough!

In nursery we love to engage in sensory play and make use our imaginations to turn it into whatever we want. Sensory play has so many benefits, working those tiny finger muscles and opening them up to the world of problem solving. One of our favourite activities is playing with cloud dough! With these simple instructions, you can use just two ingredients to create your very own Cloud Dough. Some people may refer to this as Moon Sand - it is very very similar and can be moulded together to make creations.

What will you need?

8 cups of flour

1 cup of baby oil

What do you need to do?

Mix together the two ingredients until they are fully merged. In nursery, we like to promote independence and it's a really simple way to look at some mathematical language with your child. They will absolutely love measuring out the cups of flour into a bowl, making sure they are full to the top. They have the opportunity to count up to number 8, and you could prompt more learning by asking "how many more cups do we need?". Mixing the ingredients together will help to strengthen muscles - just don't expect it all to stay in the bowl!

It's a good idea to make sure this activity is set up in some form of container. A messy plat matt underneath is always a good idea to help clean up afterwards!

Hints & Tips

- The cloud dough is great to add to any vehicle play. This could be cars, diggers or dumper trucks! Children will spend hours transporting and digging away.

- You won't believe just how much fun those old measuring jugs are alongside a couple of spoons! Children love to fill and empty containers and it's something that we focus on in nursery. Again, here is a good opportunity to look at some fun maths! Can we fill the bucket all the way to the top? Does it feel heavy when it's full? You could also add things in here such as a sieve or a potato masher.

- With all of this beautiful weather, you could create your own little scene at the beach! Add a bucket and a spade to your cloud dough and watch them build sand castles in the sunshine. Don't forget your sunscreen, sun hat and a stick to make a flag with!

- Dinosaurs are another great addition to the cloud dough. Children love to play with small world items and what better to add some sand?! Not only could you create your own dino land, you could bury the dinosaurs and go on a dino hunt! With your paint brushes ready, you can sweep away the sand looking for dinosaurs! This gives you the opportunity to talk about bones and 'Archeologists' - wow what a big word! I wonder if your child could have a try at such a big word!

We hope that you have lots of fun with this activity. Stay safe everyone!

- The Country Kids Team

Country Kids Day Nursery | Playdough Recipe

websitebuilder@yell.com — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 13:46:58 GMT

‘This is how’: We make playdough!

Many of you may be thinking 'How am I going to entertain my child whilst schools and nurseries are closed?' and we totally understand. We’d like to share some of our secrets with you on simple things we do to engage busy bodies in nursery. One thing we make sure is readily available every day is play dough. We love it, the children love it.. it's a win win situation! In nursery, we encourage the children to be as independent as possible, so they like to mix the ingredients themselves. This allows them to have the opportunity to look at measures and follow a recipe with an adult.

You will need:

- 2 Cups Plain Flour

- 1/2 Cup of Salt

- 2 Cups of Boiling Water

- 4 Teaspoons of Cream of Tartar

- 4 Tablespoons of Oil

- Food Colouring (Optional)

- Food Essence (Optional)

Instructions:

- Boil Kettle

- Measure out Flour, Oil, Salt and Cream of Tartar into a pan. Mix together until a sticky, lumpy mixture is created.

- Measure boiled water into a separate container. It is important here that should you wish to add food colouring, this is added to the water. Mix in together.

- Add water and food colouring to the pan.

- Add in essence to the pan should you wish. Favourites in nursery include lavender, lemon and orange!

- Slowly add heat to the pan and keep stirring. The mixture will become very thick and heavy to mix. Keep mixing until you have formed a ball of dough.

- Let the play dough cool down, and enjoy endless hours of fun!

Hints and Tips:

- Singing '10 fat sausages' whilst rolling out play dough in to sausages encourages use of language. The children love to shout 'POP!' and 'BANG'. Rolling out sausages requires concentration and strengthens up their hand and finger muscles. 'How many sausages do we have, how many more do we need?' will prompt number language.

- Adding pasta to play dough encourages children to use their imaginations. Will they create prickly hedgehogs with uncooked spaghetti or will they create their favourite dinosaurs using Penne Pasta (should you be able to find any in the shops!).

- Shape recognition. As play dough is so easy to mould, you could create simple shapes such as circles and squares. Without directly asking the children 'What shape have I made?', why not leave them a little bit of time to see if they tell you what you have made. If they don't prompt the names of the shapes, why not try asking 'Ooh look at my square, I wonder if you could make a square like mine?'. The more you repeat the word, the more children will pick up which shape it is. For older children, you could make a sphere or a cuboid, and talk about these being 3D shapes.

- Play dough that is contained can last up to 3 weeks. This could be either in a tin or wrapped with cling foil.

We hope that this has been helpful and that you enjoy a little bit of peace and quiet whilst they play!

- The Country Kids Team x