04/06/2026
The Friary Preschool - Crawley Sports Day 2026 Ladies and Gentlemen π₯π₯πββοΈπββοΈπββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈββ‘οΈ π₯ π₯
We did NOT let the weather stop us β βοΈβοΈ.
SO much fun was had by all and the children AND staff πͺπͺπ₯³π₯³.
The children started off with a physical warm-up to ensure that they were all ready to go and the teachers explained the importance of stretching and waking up all their joints and muscles πͺ πββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈπββοΈπͺ.
Sports Day Events Completed:
πΈοΈ1 - 400m
πΈοΈ2- 100m
πΈοΈ3- Obstacle Course
πΈοΈ4 - Sack Race
πΈοΈ5 - Tug of War
πππππSports day is crucial in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) because it supports holistic development. πππππ
πββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈ
It directly targets the Prime Areas of Learning:
β‘οΈ Physical Development : building motor skills, balance, and coordination.
β‘οΈPersonal, Social and Emotional Development: boosting self-esteem, teaching teamwork, and encouraging resilience.
AND
β‘οΈ Communication and Language: focuses on listening, attention, understanding, and speaking. It helps children express themselves and develop a rich vocabulary.
πββοΈπββοΈπββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈββ‘οΈ πββοΈπββοΈπββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈββ‘οΈπββοΈββ‘οΈ
After Sports Day had finished and everyone had had a drink and healthy snack we had a medal ceremony π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯.
πͺπͺPositive Association with Exercise: It establishes the foundation for a healthy lifestyle, teaching children that physical activity is fun and rewarding.πͺπͺ
π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯
13/05/2026
Children's Oral Health Visit:
πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯
The Friary Preschool - Crawley is partnership working with the Sussex Oral Health Team and they regularly come and visit the Preschool to promote good dental hygiene to our children and to train the staff at the Preschool to support the children.
π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·
Today Claire came to read a story to the children about the importance of brushing our teeth, how many teeth we have and to demonstrate the best way to brush our teeth; which is in small circles.
πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯
Claire told the children how they should be assisted by an adult until they are at least 7 and that they should put a small amount of tooth paste on the brush, no water is needed to be added and no rinse is required at the end; the children can spit out excess tooth paste if needed.
Claire demonstrated this on her dog teddy who she brought and showed the children, whilst timing 2 minutes. Claire said this should be done at least twice a day.π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·
The children then all got a chance to practice brushing the dogs teeth or the big false teeth Claire also brought with her.
The children all had great fun in this child-led learning and thoroughly enjoyed the interactive experience!! ππππ.
π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·π¦·
Claire explained to the children the importance of brushing our teeth is the same as washing our hands. Washing our hands gets rid of germs on our hands and brushing our teeth gets rid of the germs on our teeth.
Brushing teeth at Preschool helps the children to prevent tooth decay, establish lifelong healthy habits, encourage and promote independence, support health and development
Before Claire left she provided all of the children with free new toothbrushes and toothpaste which has a toothbrushing chart tooπ₯³π₯³π₯³...thank you Claire πππππ.
πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯πͺ₯
Useful links:
https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/information-for-childcare-providers/practice-support/oral-health/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/taking-care-of-childrens-teeth/
12/05/2026
πππππππππππππππππππππππππ
Let's talk Phonics....
Phonics in the Early Years Foundation Stage is pure magic β¨β¨β¨β¨ it turns curious little learners into confident codeβcrackers, ready to take on the world of words. π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³
At the Friary Preschool - Crawley , each week we learn a new letter and its corresponding action, giving children plenty of time to explore, practise and play with every new sound. π π¦ ππ¦π π π π πͺ³
πΆπΆSong of SoundsπΆπΆ makes this journey even more exciting by wrapping phonics in catchy tunes, lively actions and joyful repetition.
Children donβt just learn their sounds, they sing them, dance them and teach them, which is why we love encouraging you to ask your child to teach you the new sound and action at home. π‘π‘π‘π‘π‘π‘π‘π‘
The rhythm keeps the energy buzzing, the movement keeps everyone involved, and the music makes every session feel like a celebration. π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³
Weβve added the link to the song so you can sing along at home too, keeping the fun going and helping your child grow into a happy, confident early reader πππππππππππππππππ
Enjoy... π
πππππππππππππππππππππππππ
Song of Sounds
73 likes. "Song of Sounds - Stage 1 2022"
01/05/2026
πππππ Caterpillars update...they have grown SO much!!!πππ
The Friary Preschool - Crawley children have ABSOLUTELY loved watching the caterpillars grow and develop through observation throughout the day and at circle time.
Our visitors are creating quite the conversation and discussions I tell you ππππ. I wonder if they have at home too...π€π€π€π€.
It is a magical experience for the children getting to witness the transformation up close and has been this week's highlight for a lot of the children ππππ«Άπ«Άπ«Άππππ«Άπ«Άπ«Άππππ«Άπ«Άπ«Άππ.
The Butterfly Lifecycle has most definitely been a vocabulary builder for our children and they have also been learning through play about it in the tuff tray this week. π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦
ALSO the caterpillars are getting ready for the next stage in the lifecycle...can you remember what that is...βββ
01/05/2026
ππ It's that glorious time of year again when the sun is out βοΈ.
Therefore please can we make sure all of the children have suncream applied before they come to Preschool and also please send in a sunhat with their name on. ππ§’ππ§’ππ§’ππ§’ππ§’
We have been talking with the children about the importance of Sun Safety. ππππππππππππππππππ
At the Preschool we have 'drinks break alarms' that go off throughout the day to help remind the children to have regular drinks breaks. This is an excellent way for the children to foster independence, motor skills and healthy habits. π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³.
Thank you in advance for your support ππππ.
27/04/2026
Our latest editions to the Friary Preschool - Crawley have arrived πππππ....
We are looking forward as the children get to watch and observe as the teeny tiny caterpillars grow and move through the Butterfly Lifecycle π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦
We can't get over how quickly they have grown ALREADY π²π²π²π²...
21/04/2026
β‘οΈβ‘οΈβ‘οΈNEVER underestimate the power of an empty cardboard box π¦ AND a child's imagination ππππππππππππππππππ
Hours of fun and play was had in the Friary Preschool - Crawley garden...ALL created and led by the children π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³π₯³.
πΈοΈThe boxes were VERY busy and put to work straight away. The boxes kept on evolving and adapting to each of the children's ideas and play π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘π€‘.
πΈοΈGreat use of sharing, turn taking, cause and effect and problem solving was seen by all.
πΈοΈThe boxes π¦ had a big journey from being a boat, to a car, to an office, to a bed, to a exercise mat, to a classroom, to a spaceship and SO much more...
27/03/2026
The Friary Preschool - Crawley fully embraced the Lenten season through meaningful activities focused on reflection and joy β₯. The children practiced their mark-making skills by designing and making their own crosses and together we created a beautiful resurrection garden to help visualize the Easter story. β
A highlight was the visit from Father Peter, our local Catholic priest, who shared the message of Easter with the children, sang and prayed...leaving us with a beautifulEaster Blessing. β πβοΈπβοΈπβοΈπ
πΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆπΆIn the words of Father Peter; "If your happy and you know it say Amen...AMEN! If you're happy and you know it say Amen...AMEN! If you're happy and you know it and you really want to show it, if you're happy and you know it say Amen...Amen! πΆπΆπΆ
The festive spirit continued as we crafted Easter egg baskets, went on a high-energy Easter egg hunt, and enjoyed traditional hot cross buns. π₯ π° π₯π°π₯π°π₯π°π₯π°π₯π°π₯π°π₯π°π₯π°
Thank you for a wonderful term as always! We are SO grateful for all the Friary Preschool children and their families' continued support, which makes our Preschool community so special. We wish you all a holy and blessed Easter holidays π π° πβ°β°π°ππ°ππ°ππ°ππ°ππ°ππ°ππ°ππ°ππ°ππ°π