Flying Start Nursery Children Learn About Their Mental Health…

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Flying Start Nurseries have raised awareness of Mental Health on World Mental Health Day 10/10/14!

The children across all of the nurseries have been learning about their Mental Health and how they can look after it.

Although only in the Early Years the children aged 2-5 years were aware of their emotions, common feelings

remembered were happy sad and cross! 

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The children were then able to use their emotions to match to photographs of facial expressions, make expressions in

the mirror, identify with flashcards and then use in circle times to discuss.

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Listening, asking and responding to questions such as:

‘What makes you happy?’ ‘Does______ make you cross?’ ‘How do I know you are happy?’

‘What happens if you’re sad?’

Activities with arts and crafts helped the children to explore thoughts and feelings…

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It is important you talk to your children about their emotions, ensure they are aware what makes them happy or sad or any other emotion they can identify with. With older toddler and preschool children extend this by exploring how they manage their own feelings and that they know where they can get support or praise! 

We will continue in the next half term to help children understand their mental health appropriate to their age and development.

Flying Start @ Cornwall College’s Visit to the Cafe for Cake!

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Flying Start @ Cornwall College Preschool children have been out for a walk on their College Campus this week.

The children walked around the campus in the sunshine, getting some fresh air and a much needed break to the start of their busy term!

The children stopped at the College Cafe for an afternoon treat of some Chocolate Cake!

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What lucky children!

Flying Start @ Cornwall College link sensory play across the curriculum

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Flying Start @ Cornwall College have been exploring and experimenting with lots of different sensory items, including:

rice, pasta, sand, clay, water, paints, lentils ETC!

In the baby department the sensory play is linked to physical development and encouraging fine motor skills, pincer grasps to pick up small grains, spoons to transport and balance and using brushes and sponges to experiment with textures and consistencies!

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In the toddlers they have been spending lots of time outside, splashing in water trays, exploring the mud and digging areas and painting with water in the sunshine!

In the preschool department the children have been exploring their sensory with a mathematics hat on! Measuring, weighing, pouring, filling and emptying containers of different shapes and sizes.

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What other sensory exploration do you think your children would enjoy?

Flying Start Nurseries Support Parents and Children in 2015 School Transitions.

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Flying Start Nurseries would like to let all Preschool parents know about the school entry guidelines published by the Cornwall Council.

Children starting school in September 2015 can now apply, until the deadline date of January 15th 2015 for their school place at three possible school choices.

Go to this link for all current information and applications: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools-and-colleges/school-admissions/apply-to-start-school-or-transfer-to-junior-secondary-or-ks4-school-in-september-2015/ 

Please remember Flying Start Nurseries can continue to care for your child in a high quality learning environment, on low 1:8 ratio’s using the same curriculum as primary school until the term after they are 5 years old!

 

Flying Start @ Cornwall College’s Babies Outdoor Play!

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Flying Start @ Cornwall College have been getting everybody outside lots this summer in their beautiful garden!

With lots of numbers, letters, growing plants, climbing equipment, sensory play areas and beautiful shady corners under the giant tree… there is just so much to do in the garden!

Flying Start babies have been enjoying lots of painting with water in the sunshine, waiting for it to disappear and then painting again!

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The babies have also been remembering to wear their hats!

Flying Start on Heart FM

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Please click here to hear the latest job adverts on Heart FM 105.1 and 107

For all staff and existing parents – don’t forget you can win a bonus for introducing new customers and new staff!

 

 

Flying Start Managers Get Away For The Day!

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Flying Start Managers joined together last week at Porthpean Education Centre! 

The managers were there for an unusual start to the morning where they had an icebreaker activity with WackaTubes… Making beautiful music of course!

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The two teams were rated on their performances, and of course ‘constructive’ feedback was provided!!

Then the managers explored some different management techniques and styles, identifying strengths and weaknesses in staff and exploring ways to strengthen and support their teams and nurseries. Performance grading and the differences between managing and leading were all topics of the morning, and a lot was taken from it by all to further develop their managing style and continue to strive within their individual nurseries!

After the morning’s meeting the managers were put up to a challenge! In teams they had to build a raft, follow a map, kayak to specific points to find different objects hidden in the water, at heights up cliffs, through natural rock archways and attached to buoys! Of course all of this was being observed by Sharon and Steve with questions being floated like… ‘is there a clear leader? does their need to be a leader? are you able to promote each others skills?’ Whilst of course it was also an occasion to have lots of fun and enjoy a challenge of a different kind!

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Then the two teams were in a race against time to use all of the objects they had collected during their kayaking adventures to build a flag pole the highest flag flying would win whilst the team enjoyed a freshly made brew and a cake!

With this specification the teams got to work….

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One team split their team with half making the device to heat, boiling the water and creating several cups of tea whilst the other half built their flag pole!

While the other team got their water boiling then all starting building together…. This team got the highest flag! However the winners were the team above! Dani, Shelley, Gemma and Lucy who were enjoying their nice warm cup of tea before the others!

Welldone All!

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Flying Start Team Leaders, Team Build!

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Flying Start nurseries all came together last week with every centre’s team leaders joining together for a day away from their normal nursery routines!

The team leaders were taken on a day out, to engage initially in training tasks promoting effective team leading and management techniques and then developing to an action packed afternoon to encourage team building skills and reflection!

Have a look below to see what they got up to….

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Building trust, providing direct instruction and working through a challenge!

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Facing fears, having motivation and some active positive thinking and supporting each other when they most needed it!

What a brilliant day for all team leaders, a training event to further develop their skills and abilities in leading our Flying Start teams but also a day away from the setting as a well done for all of their hard work and time for reflection but also forward thinking for the next academic year!

Thankyou to all team leaders who really did throw themselves into it and use the opportunities to challenge themselves!

Flying Start @ Cornwall College get Colombian!

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Flying Start @ Cornwall College were drawn Colombia as their World Cup Team…

Look at the amazing learning experiences the children had with this focus topic!

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The babies painted, stuck and made marks in blue yellow and red which the staff then made into Colombian flags!

Toddlers looked at the Amazon rainforest birds and fruits, naming colours, spotting patterns and describing what they could see!

Pre-school explored some Spanish words, dance and clothes!

Thee whole nursery enjoyed snack together, trying out some of the exotic fruits that they had learned about.

Then the staff created a wonderful display with photos of all of these activities for the parents to see and learn about Colombia also… they then found out a parent had recently visited the country so fingers crossed so an even more in depth activity session learning about Colombia!

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Although Colombia weren’t overly victorious in the World Cup, Flying Start @ Cornwall College did a fantastic job of learning about such an exciting country! Well done!

Flying Start @ Cornwall College get vocal!

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Flying Start @ Cornwall College have been meeting a target to enhance their communication development in the nursery.

The children are enjoying lots of activities led by staff and some child initiated play through interesting resources, for example puppets and mirrors encouraging children to create a conversation, cosy and communication friendly spaces inside and outside, ICT resources and recording devices and daily communication activities!

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In the baby department here you can see the children exploring their current favourite song, Incy Wincy Spider! Can you spot the spider?! The children are starting to use props in their song and story times.