Sandbrook Nursery School

If you are applying for Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance for the upcoming school year, you are encouraged to apply before Friday 31 July to guarantee your support is in place for the start of term.

Please ensure you have completed the application fully and submitted all relevant supporting documentation.

👉 Apply now on EA Connect: https://connect.eani.org.uk/parent/login

For more information, including FAQs, visit: www.eani.org.uk/fsm

❤️

*FREE RELAXATION RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS*
Over the past few years in East Belfast Sure Start we have been working closely with Tessa Ann, a Therapeutic Sound Practitioner, and she has very kindly shared some links below to sounds that families can listen to. We hope in these unsettling times that these sounds might help offer a little bit of calm to your homes and support the wellbeing of you and your little ones.
The information and sounds have been created by Tessa Ann, founder of TESSA UN Ltd – Sound, sensory and space awareness experiences.

Some tips for listening:
Listen at a time and in an environment that feels right for you. The sounds can be played through speakers or headphones, depending on your preference and sensory comfort. There is no need to actively “do” anything while listening. You may choose to focus on your breathing, close your eyes or simply allow the sounds to sit gently in the background as a calming sensory companion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEgYfmkKx_k

This calming sound journey features Koshi chimes tuned to Earth, Water, Air and Fire, accompanied by the gentle sounds of the Rain Column. The spacious nature of the sounds, and the pauses between them offer an opportunity to slow down, soften attention and simply rest. This resource may be useful for moments of quiet regulation, transitions between activities, calming before rest or sleep, an individual listening with headphones and creating a quieter sensory environment.

https://thesoundhealingspa.co.uk/products/sleepy-sounds-with-echo-ta-ta-friends

Listen to the calming sounds of Echo Ta Ta and friends as part of your child’s bedtime wind-down. This gentle 8-minute sound journey offers a sensory friendly listening experiences designed to help little listeners transition from busy bedtime energy into a calmer, quieter moment before sleep. Featuring the soft resonant tones of Tibby the Tibetan singing bowl, alongside the gentle rhythmic sounds of Rainy the rainstick and Shaky the shaker, Sleepy Sounds invites calm listening, curiosity and relaxation.
Perfect for that quiet bedtime moment before drifting off to sleep. There is no right or wrong way to use Sleepy Sounds. Some families may choose to listen together, while others may play the audio softly as their little one settles towards sleep. A little Magical Sounds gift for you and your family. Thank you Tessa!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBPbjqchfdk

This 20-minute calming sound resource combines nature sounds, singing bowls, gongs, rainstick and chimes to create a gentle sensory listening experience. It is designed to support moments of quiet pause, calm and sensory reset. It might be helpful for transitions between activities, quiet individual listening, calming after busy or stimulating times, rest and decompression or moments of sensory pause at home.

Applications for Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance for the upcoming academic year are now open!

👉 Apply now: https://connect.eani.org.uk/parent/

Please note, as well as new applicants, parents/carers of children who are currently in receipt of Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance will need to apply again for the 2026/27 school year.

If you don’t already have an EA Connect account, you will need to set one up. This is quick and easy to do, and there is lots of helpful information available on www.eani.org.uk/fsm to show you how.

You will also find details on eligibility and the supporting documentation you will need to upload when making your application.

🙂New intake September 2026🙂

Forms to be returned today (Wednesday) OR tomorrow (Thursday) between 1.45pm-3pm.

Please remember to connect to Seesaw using QR code in pack, lots of information on Seesaw with induction times and start dates.

Uniforms are available today to check sizing on the little ones.

See you all soon 🙂

📣 Applications for Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance for the upcoming academic year are now open!

If you are in receipt of one of the following, you will need to upload a Proof of Benefit letter when applying for Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance for the 2026/27 academic year:

➡️ Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
➡️ Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit

You can request a Proof of Benefit letter online: https://t.co/vhcVyDRoi5 (It will take at least five days to be sent to you)

If you receive Universal Credit, you do not need the Proof of Benefit Letter. However, you will need to upload evidence of your Universal Credit entitlement when you apply.

More information on eligibility and supporting documentation can be found at www.eani.org.uk/fsm

Always great fun when Joe from The Gathering Drum comes to visit. Lots of smiles and laughter. We enjoyed having pur families join in this time, thank you Joe 😊

Pedro Bear from Royal Mail came to visit the nursery and talk about his adventures. He showed off his passport and left us some fantastic resources for our Post Office role play. We LOVED Pedro. 🥰🐻🧸

We are so proud 🙂

We have achieved the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award. This is a testament to the care, hard work and teamwork in our nursery, from staff and children.

The children and staff have worked hard caring for our lovely school garden and learning all about how to look after the world around us 🌍

As a nursery we are always developing and learning and this award shows the hard work that goes on every single day.

The future begins here.

Is your child starting nursery in September and struggling with toileting? This could be a useful workshop with support on next steps.

📣NEW Workshop! 👏
🌟Delivered together with Settled Petals
☎Call now to book your place 0808 8020 400