Fun Start Childcare

16/10/2026

OCTOBER HALF TERM EVENTS @ CANNOCK CHASE FAMILY HUB 🎃🕸️🕷️

15/10/2026

CLOTH NAPPIES AND BABYWEARING CHAT AND SUPPORT - DROP IN SESSION.
FRIDAYS 2:05PM - 2:45PM 🤎

15/10/2026

07/10/2026

🌈 **We’re introducing MyHappymind!** 🌈

We’re excited to let you know that we are now using **MyHappymind** at Fun Start Childcare! 💛

MyHappymind supports children’s **mental wellbeing, emotional development and understanding of themselves and others**. We’ll be exploring the programme through fun, age-appropriate activities and conversations at nursery.

🏡 **Continue the learning at home**

Parents and carers can also access the **MyHappymind app** to continue the learning at home and talk about the same ideas we are exploring at nursery.

📱 **How to access the app:**

1️⃣ Download the **MyHappymind app** from the App Store or Google Play.
2️⃣ Select **Parent/Carer** when asked.
3️⃣ Enter the **unique code for Fun Start Childcare** when prompted.
4️⃣ Create your parent/carer account and you’ll then be able to access the resources available to you.

🔑 **Your unique code is specific to our nursery**, so please speak to a member of staff and we will provide this for you.

We really encourage families to use the app alongside what we are doing at nursery. Even a few minutes talking about the topics together can help children **embed their learning and develop these important wellbeing skills in everyday life.** 🌈🧠

We’re looking forward to introducing MyHappymind and working together with our families to support our children’s wellbeing. 💛

01/10/2026

⏰🌊 4 WEEKS TO GO… THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS! 💙
Our next Additional Needs Evening is getting closer! After so many of you asked when we would be hosting another event following our summer evening, we’re delighted to be returning this October half term.

📅 Wednesday 28th October 2026
⏰ 6:00pm – 8:00pm
💦Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent

Our Additional Needs Evening offers a more relaxed environment for guests with additional needs, disabilities and autism, together with their families and carers.

We love hosting these events and can’t wait to welcome you back!💙

🎟️ Booking is essential – secure your tickets now:https://api.re-start.app/sp/c2d9b74ef01

📣 4 weeks to go… who’s joining us this October half term?

30/09/2026

Book now for our next session on Thursday 8th October 10am www.mpft.live/cde

27/09/2026

👂🎶 **THIS WEEK AT FUN START – LISTENING SKILLS** 🎶👂

This week, our curriculum focus is **Listening Skills**! We will be providing lots of fun, hands-on opportunities for the children to develop their ability to **listen, pay attention, understand, respond and communicate** through play and everyday experiences.

# # # 👂 Why are listening skills so important?

Listening is a key foundation for children's learning and development. Being able to listen and understand helps children to:

🗣️ Develop their speech, language and communication
📚 Understand stories, conversations and new vocabulary
🤝 Build friendships and learn to listen to others
🧠 Follow instructions and develop their attention and memory
🎶 Enjoy and respond to sounds, music and rhythm
🏫 Develop skills that will support them as they become school ready

Our activities will be **child-led and play-based**, allowing children to practise these skills naturally throughout the day.

# # # 🎵 Making our own instruments

The children will be designing and making their own musical instruments using recycled and creative materials. We will explore the different sounds they can make and experiment with **loud, quiet, fast and slow** sounds.

# # # 🚜 Farm play

Our farm provision will provide lots of opportunities for listening through **farm songs, animal sounds and symbolic sounds**. We will encourage the children to listen carefully, copy sounds and keep a beat along with familiar songs. 🐄🐖🐑🎶

# # # 🧱 Big & small construction

While building with our large and small bricks, children will practise **listening and responding to instructions**, such as finding specific pieces, putting objects in different places and following simple sequences. We will also encourage children to listen to and respond to their friends during collaborative play.

# # # 🌳 Outdoor sound walk

We will take our **listening ears outside** and go on a sound walk! 👂 We will stop, listen and see what sounds we can hear around us — from birds and vehicles to footsteps, wind and sounds made during outdoor play.

# # # 📚 Noisy stories

We will be sharing **noisy and interactive stories**, including *Peace at Last*. 🌙🐻

The children will be encouraged to listen carefully for the different sounds in the story, join in with repeated sounds and phrases, anticipate what might happen next and talk about what they can hear. This helps us develop **attention, listening, understanding, memory and vocabulary** while making story time fun and interactive.

# # # 🗣️ Speech Club speechclub_official

Our **Speech Club** will continue to focus on listening skills. We will use a listening video alongside songs, games and activities to practise **attention, listening, turn-taking and responding**.

# # # 🎶 And lots more!

Listening won't just happen during these activities. Our team will be **following the children's interests and extending listening opportunities throughout continuous provision**, stories, role play, music, construction, outdoor play and everyday conversations.

🌟 **Our curriculum focus:**
**Confident Communicators** 🗣️
**Curious Creators** 🎨🎶
**Independent Investigators** 🔎
**Wellbeing Warriors** 💛

We can't wait to see what the children discover, create and hear this week! 👂💫

**Why not practise at home too?** Ask your child, *“What can you hear?”* when you're out and about, listen for different sounds together, or sing a favourite song and encourage them to copy the rhythm. 🎵

23/09/2026

Everyone is welcome!
You don’t need to have a child with SEND to come along. If you have a question, a worry, need some advice, or simply want someone to talk to, pop in for a cuppa and a chat. We’re here to listen, support and help.

18/09/2026

We are heartbroken to hear the passing of Noah Woods. Our thoughts are with Noah’s loved ones and everyone affected at this devastating time.

Three-year-old Noah was on the autism pathway, non-speaking and had partial hearing loss.

Research suggests elopement (wandering) is more common among autistic children, although it can happen to any child. It can happen in moments, and situations can change very quickly.

For some autistic children, elopement may be linked to sensory seeking behaviour, a strong interest, wanting to reach a particular place or person, or difficulties communicating their needs. Differences in communication and danger awareness can also make these situations more difficult to navigate safely.

As part of our ongoing work to support families, we’re developing resources on autistic elopement and danger awareness – exploring ways to reduce risk, support communication and ways to respond and navigate these situations as safely as possible. 💜

16/09/2026

Take a look at our free online Parenting Support workshops coming soon:

Understanding Behaviour
Wednesday 30th September, 5:30-6:45pm

Healthy Teeth
Monday 12th October, 10-11:30am

Starting Solids
Thursday 5th November, 10-11:15am

Looking After Ourselves
Monday 16th November, 4-5:15pm

Fussy Eating
Thursday 3rd December, 1-2:15pm

Eating Well For Less
Thursday 17th December, 10-11:15am

Providing practical advice, support and tips for you and your family. Join our friendly and informal online workshops, designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to support your child's health, development and wellbeing.

Book your space now:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=TdGsJLuS1kS7qO2z0DgTzQIpr7k4KbxAuA6HfzFzEDdUOVBYVDhOS1VIU0wyNzNMTjVGODhJWkJYVy4u&route=shorturl