Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Marleigh Cambridge

🎒📚School Readiness📚🎒

At Monkey Puzzle Marleigh, we support children in learning a range of skills in order to prepare for a smooth transition into primary school and later on in life...

We focus on teaching independence and self-care skills, communication and language skills, social and emotional skills, curiosity for learning, physical development as well as fine and gross motor skills 🥰

For example, during mealtimes, children are encouraged to self-serve their own food and drink using tongs, spoons and jugs. They often will help set up the tables along with using cutlery to eat while having meaningful conversations with others. Children are also supported in dressing themselves as well as putting on their coats and shoes🍽

We support children in fostering a love for learning by providing a range of activities based on interests like playdough, painting and outdoor climbing which all build hand and core strength for writing later on ✍🏻

⚗🥼STEM - Week 2 Round Up⚗🥼

Over the past two weeks, our topic has been 'science, technology, engineering and mathematics'.

Preschool were involved in a range of science experiments and discussed 'how' and 'why' things happen as well as making their own estimation of what might happen next...

They used pippets, magnifying glasses, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda and watched what happened next during their first experiment 🧪

Toddlers tested out shapes, counting objects and measuring water with cups. These activities all built on their critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills 🔢

Babies were supported with using simple tools to break ice, building towers with blocks and sand as cement. Each day, babies were also involved in exploring floating and sinking 🫗

🎉🎓Graduation Day - Class of 2026🎉🎓

We started our day to celebrate the graduation of our preschoolers as they prepare to take their next big step - starting school in September!

It was a joyful morning reminiscing about the beginning of their journeys at Monkey Puzzle Marleigh. They received learning journals of their previous observations from when they first joined as babies 🥰

The day was filled with heartwarming moments: certificates were handed out, sang their Graduation song and received special gift bags. Afterwards, children joined in with a superhero party whilst parents enjoyed snacks 🍓

While it is always bittersweet to say goodbye, we could not be prouder of each and every one of them. We are sad to see this chapter close, but so excited for all that lies ahead 🌻

A special thank you to Jael, Samuel and Tahera for all of the hard work you do every single day in preschool room. You are wonderful practitioners 💓

🧪🔬STEM - Week 1🔬🧪

Last week, the children delved into the world of 'science, technology, engineering, and maths'.

They observed the melting of ice, experimented with various heavy and light objects, and engaged in colour mixing using paints and food colouring. They also utilised shaving foam to build walls for blocks, investigated the principles of floating and sinking, examined magnets, and explored the effects of light and colour by using torches to cast shadows and shine them against different objects.🔦👷🎨

The children also looked at sticking items together with some junk modelling and explored bubbles in water trays. 🫧

🐰🐱 Pet Animals - Round Up 🐰🐱

Children have been learning about pet animals which led to meeting guinea pigs later on in the week.

Toddlers have explored hands-on activities roleplaying looking after dogs in kennels and sick pets at the vets. They have focused on new vocabulary such as fur, whiskers, paws and habitat through books, flashcards and group discussions 🐠

In preschool room, lots of discussions have took place about how pets have feelings, need rest like us and require gentle hands. Children asked questions about what it means when a cat is purring or a dog is wagging it's tail 🐶

Parents were also asked to share any pictures of family pets which allowed children to share what it's like looking after their very own pet at home 🥰

🐹🥰 Guinea Pigs 🐹🥰

Over the past week, our current theme has been 'Pet Animals'. Children have been able to share photographs and talk about their pets which led to one of our staff members bringing in her guinea pigs!

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers were able to meet Pitzy and Penny. They learnt how to hold them safely, what foods they can eat and how they are kept cool/warm in different weather types.

Preschool were particularly interested how in how guinea pigs stay active. They were able to discuss adding slides, tunnels and toys into their cage. Children chose new names for them 'Oreo and Jammy Dodger' 🍪❤️

🐅 Wild Animals 🐅

Over the past week, children have been learning about different wild animals. In preschool, they started of the theme by discussing physical characteristics of wild animals as well as their habitats and diet. Children also took part in matching animal sounds to the animal which led onto looking at a world map 🦛

Toddlers were able to act out how different animals move during their yoga session. They stomped like elephants, slithered like snakes and hopped like kangaroos building on their gross motor skills. They also engaged within animal races which enabled dicussions to spark about the fastest ones 🐆

Babies learnt about wild animals through sensory play and communicating through activities. They were able to recognise some animal names and imitate sounds like 'roar'. They also explored a range of activities involving leaves for the jungle and sand for the desert 🐾

🪼🐋 Sea Animals 🐋🪼

Over the past week, the children delved into the theme of 'sea animals' 🦑

In baby room, they explored a range of sensory experiences with their hands and feet such as gloop, foam and sand. Babies also used tweezers to save the sharks stuck in the spaghetti 🦈
This followed on with singing one of our favourites 'baby shark' using signing and actions.

Toddlers used nets to discover creatures swimming in the sea which sparked conversations about how each one looks and moves. For example, they learnt how dolphins leap, stingrays glide and jellyfish drift in the current 🪼

In preschool, they explored how different creatures move, eat and protect themselves while developing their counting skills and fine motor skills through hands-on sea themed activities. They were fascinated in the way octopuses change colour to hide and how pufferfish puff up like a balloon 🐡

🦋 Life Cycle - Butterflies🦋

Over the past month, children have been exploring the journey from a caterpillar to a butterfly and what happens during each stage in detail 🐛

Firstly, we discussed how the eggs will hatch into hungry caterpillars, also known as larva. Preschool then discussed how and why caterpillars need leaves to munch on and were given the responsibility to check on them each day. Until one day, we found them hanging upside down which meant soon they will begin to form the chrysalis...

We then waited patiently for butterflies to break out and ensured to add in oranges for them to suck in before letting them fly off for their new adventure 🥰🍊

🥰🤸‍♀️Monkeynastics🤸‍♀️🥰

Every Monday, we offer our preschoolers a gymnastics session with our wonderful Monkeynastics teacher, Steve. During this, children are supported with their gross motor skills in a range of fun, challenging ways.

Steve uses a holistic plan that combines creativity to support young children in flexibility, balance, strength, agility, co-ordination and body awareness. Steve often brings lots of equipment for each child to have a go; such as gym mats, balance beams, tumble mats, parallel bars, mini trampolines and soft-play shapes.

In this particular session, children started off by using hoops and foam shapes to create an obstacle course. This also supported children in working together and waiting for their next turn. They then had opportunities to safely practice rolling over and swinging.