Dancing Daffodils private group

18/09/2026

***FUNDING FOCUS FRIDAY ****

Returning to work: How it works with maternity, paternity or adoption leave

* If you are on some form of parental leave and applying for an older child, who is not the subject of the parental leave, you can apply online at GOV.UK.

* If you are applying for the child that is the subject of the parental leave, you can also apply online but the date that you return to work from parental leave will affect when you can take up the childcare and when you can apply for your code. See table in image.

* If one parent is starting or returning to work, while the other parent remains on parental leave until a later date, you will only be eligible to apply once both parents have either returned to work or have a start or return to work date within one month of the start of term (that is, 30 September, 31 January or 30 April).

* If you are on paid annual leave and receiving your salary as normal, this counts as having returned to work for the purposes of eligibility for the working parent entitlement.

For more information, visit wwe.beststartinlife.gov.uk

18/09/2026

Don’t forget to apply for your codes ready for January new starters ###

***FUNDING FOCUS FRIDAY***

Working Parent Entitlements:

For children aged 9 months to school age. Eligible working families can apply for 30 hours of childcare for 38 weeks a year, to use from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age, saving an average of £8,000 a year for every child.

You can usually get funded childcare for working parents if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

* in work or starting a new job
* on sick leave or annual leave
* on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
* getting statutory neonatal care pay
* on bereaved partner paternity leave

The amount of funded childcare you can get depends on:

* your child’s age and circumstances
* your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
* your immigration status

For more information visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk

18/09/2026

We ended our week with a visit to the park. Everyone appreciated the opportunity to run around as the children have an abundance of energy today!!!
Lunch today was Thai style chicken and vegetable stir fry followed by Greek yogurt and berry purée . Am snack was kiwi, satsumas, apple and orange slices as we needed to finish up our fruit bowl !!

17/09/2026

We went to the farm with the intention of purchasing corn on the cob complete with its husk intact. We found miniature pumpkins instead. We call that a win !!! The children were of course naturally curious, what are they ? Look at the different colours. Do they taste the same ? This ones bigger, this one is straight this one is round, can we buy them ?
We chose to stay for lunch of chicken lasagna and baked chunky chips followed by quavers xx

16/09/2026

We enjoyed a morning at Belton House. The children played football on the lawn, threw fallen crunchy leaves into the air, relaxed by the fountain and collected a bag of apples which have been grown in the estates orchard. What a lovely way to spend a morning.
Lunch today was extremely well received with the children announcing that this is a new favourite !!! Mexican style chilli and cheesy nachos. Everyone had 2nd s so we didn’t have pudding today. Am snack was , satsuma, apple and pear slices ###

15/09/2026

This morning the children were delighted to find a new book had been delivered from one of their favourite series of stories. It’s entitled The Gruffalo Granny ! They excitedly listened , predicted and joined in with the story line then made their very own mouse crowns before using our autumn treasures to make their very own Gruffalo stew !!!
Lunch today was delicious, sausage and vegetable casserole with potatoes followed by blurry flapjacks. Am snack today was orange, apple and pear slices ###

14/09/2026

We began our morning with a story of the leaf thief after which we continued with discussion of how the season is changing, the differences we are seeing in our environment and the weather changes that are happening. The children made leaf thief hedgehogs . We then took a trip to a woodland park where the children found some tiny fallen crab apples ( which they collected to add to their autumn tray ). We found some roap swings and the children all had fun ( after Becca kindly checked that they were safe first ! ) and a den built from branches and leaves which we explored and balanced on logs laid across a small brook . We finished off with a play in the playground .
We returned to the setting for lunch of chicken and leek pesto penne followed by Greek yogurt and honey. Am snack today was Curcumber and red pepper slices with sour cream and chive dip ###

13/09/2026

Menu week beginning mon September 14th .
Pesto chicken and leek penne with grated cheese. Greek yogurt and local honey.
Sausage casserole and potato Gratin . Flapjacks.
Mexican style cheesy pork nachos Rapidos. Blackberry and apple crumble with homemade vanilla custard.
Bbq beef cheeseburger potato wedges and side salad. Fruit salad.
Thai style chicken stir fry with veggies and rice. Greek yogurt and berry purée.
Am snacks, veggie sticks and dip or fruit selection.
Pm snack , fruit toast , buttered wholemeal toast or wholemeal rice cakes. Glass of whole milk.
Fresh drinking water is available and accessible to all aged children at all times .

11/09/2026

Today we celebrate !!! Lunch today was packed lunch boxes . Am snack was bananas and afternoon snack was celebration cake which we shared with 3 other minded settings ###

10/09/2026

Today we continued learning about harvesting by making our own bread . The children all had a go at kneading, pulling, prodding and stretching to get as much air into the sticky dough as possible. After washing their hands they all excitedly waited for the hot oven to magically transform the mixture into the bread loaf that Sarah assured them it would do !! Finally the timer rang out and everyone gathered to see if it had worked. Wow they said and it looks like a hedgehog said another. Can we taste it ? Dave reminded them that the bread would be still hot like the oven and so we all decided to take a trip to a house close by that sells local honey. Everyone is looking forward to trying our freshly baked bread with honey and butter later for our afternoon snack .
Lunch today was delicious and the children all had seconds. We enjoyed soy and lime baked salmon with teriyaki noodles and vegetables. The children asked if they could finish the watermelon for afters. Am snack was, oranges, pear and bananas ###