Loobylou's Childcare

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Transition to reception can feel daunting for families. I've created this free guide to help parents support their children through this important milestone. Download, print, and share! 💙

As we ring in 2026, our hearts are so full! 💙

What an incredible year it's been at Loobylou's childcare. We've watched our little ones grow, learn, laugh, and explore the world around them—and we've been so grateful to share every precious moment with your families.To our wonderful parents: thank you for trusting us with your most treasured gifts. Your support, kindness, and partnership mean everything to us. We're so proud to be part of your family's journey.As we look ahead to 2026, we're bursting with excitement for all the adventures, discoveries, and milestones waiting for us. We can't wait to continue creating a safe, loving, and joyful space where every child can thrive and shine.Here's to new beginnings, cherished friendships, and countless magical moments ahead!Wishing you and your families a Happy New Year filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities. 🎉✨With gratitude and joy,
The Loobylou's Childcare Family 💚

🎃 And the Winner Is... 🎃

The votes are in, the people have spoken, and we have a winner for our Great Pumpkin Carve-Off!

A massive thank you to everyone who voted and shared our competition. We were thrilled to see so much community spirit!Now, the moment you've all been waiting for...Huge congratulations to the creator of Pumpkin #2! 🏆

✨ Your amazing creation won the hearts (and likes) of our community. A special Halloween prize is on its way to you!

A big round of applause for all our talented children and parents who took part. Every single pumpkin was a work of art, and we are so proud of the creativity and effort shown by everyone. Don't forget, every child who participated will receive their goodie bag to celebrate!

Thank you all for making this such a fun and spook-tacular event!

🎃 Cast Your Vote in Our Great Pumpkin Carve-Off! 🎃
Our amazing children and their parents at Loobylou's Childcare have transformed into little artists, carving some truly spook-tacular pumpkins! Now, we need your help to crown the winner.
✨How to Vote:
It's simple! Just scroll through the photos and hit 'like' on your absolute favourite pumpkin.
The pumpkin that conjures up the most likes by 5:30 PM this Saturday will win a special Halloween prize! 👻
To celebrate all the incredible creativity, every child who participated will receive a little goodie bag.
Happy voting, and may the best pumpkin win!
🎃

A few activities for next week.

🎓✨ GRADUATION DAY CELEBRATIONS! ✨🎓

It's that bittersweet time of year when we bid farewell to our amazing school leavers! Yesterday, we celebrated our graduation day with an absolutely fantastic party that had everything - bouncy castles, games, a heartwarming graduation ceremony, and plenty of party food and music. The children had the most wonderful time!

🎉We're celebrating 11 incredible children (including 4 from Loobylou's Childcare Services) who are ready to start their next big adventure at school! While we missed one of our special graduates who couldn't be there, we're planning another mini party just for her - complete with cap & gown photos because every child deserves their moment to shine! 📸👩‍🎓

One of the most touching moments was watching all the graduates go down a slide to symbolise that they are leaving pre-school and travelling on to their next big adventure - school! What a beautiful way to mark this important transition! 🛝✨

The highlight? A very special visit from Chase! 🐕 The excitement on their faces was absolutely priceless!

Although saying goodbye will be emotional, we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them. Watching these children thrive and progress has been such a joy, and knowing that our hard work has prepared them for their next adventure fills our hearts with pride.

💕Here's to new beginnings and the amazing journeys ahead! We'll miss you all so much! 🌟

EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES: ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS SUPPORTING EYFS LEARNING OUTCOMES 🌟📚

This month at Loobylou's Childcare, we have delivered two outstanding educational experiences that demonstrate our commitment to providing a rich, ambitious curriculum that supports children's development across all seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

🐍 REPTOMANIA EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP - EYFS IN ACTION

Our carefully planned Reptomania session at Clehonger Village Hall provided exceptional learning opportunities that directly support multiple EYFS areas:

Understanding the World: Children explored diverse animal species, learning about reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. They discovered animal characteristics, habitats, and life cycles through hands-on encounters with 24 different creatures, each with educational "P" names to support phonics development.

Communication and Language: Children developed extensive new vocabulary including scientific terms (python, boa, gecko, tarantula, millipede, scorpion) and descriptive language. They confidently asked questions, shared observations, and engaged in meaningful discussions about animal characteristics and behaviours.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Children demonstrated exceptional behaviour, showing respect for living creatures and developing empathy through careful handling. They built confidence through positive interactions and showed pride in their learning achievements.

Physical Development: Fine motor skills were enhanced through safe animal handling, developing hand-eye coordination and gentle touch. Children learned appropriate movements and spatial awareness when interacting with different sized creatures.

Mathematics: Counting activities with multiple animals, size comparisons, pattern recognition (stripes, spots, scales), and sequencing supported mathematical development in practical, engaging contexts.

Literacy: Introduction to scientific vocabulary, letter recognition through "P" themed names, and storytelling about animal encounters supported early reading and writing skills.

Expressive Arts and Design: Children's creative responses included drawing animals, discussing colours and textures, and imaginative play inspired by their encounters.🌟

CULTURAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
Our adoption of baby snail "Buffy" provides ongoing opportunities for children to experience the "awe and wonder of the world" - a key Ofsted requirement. This living classroom resource supports continuous learning about life cycles, responsibility, and scientific observation.

🦁 WEST MIDLANDS SAFARI PARK - EXTENDING LEARNING BEYOND THE SETTING

Our educational visit demonstrated our commitment to providing rich, diverse experiences that build cultural capital and extend learning opportunities:

Understanding the World: Children observed animals in naturalistic environments, learning about global wildlife, conservation, and different habitats. They made connections between classroom learning and real-world experiences.

Communication and Language: Enthusiastic verbal responses, questioning, and sharing of observations supported language development. Children used descriptive vocabulary to express their excitement and wonder.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Children demonstrated resilience, curiosity, and positive attitudes to new experiences. They showed consideration for others during group activities and developed confidence through successful participation.

MEETING OFSTED OUTSTANDING CRITERIA:
✅ Curriculum Intent: Clear educational objectives aligned with EYFS framework
✅ Implementation: High-quality practitioner interactions supporting learning
✅ Impact: Children deeply engaged, sustaining concentration, and developing new vocabulary
✅ Cultural Capital: Providing experiences that prepare children for future success
✅ Inclusive Practice: Supporting all children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds

EVIDENCE OF LEARNING OUTCOMES:
•Children confidently using new scientific vocabulary in subsequent play
•Sustained interest in animal characteristics and behaviours
•Enhanced questioning skills and scientific thinking
•Improved fine motor control through animal handling
•Increased confidence in group learning situations
•Development of empathy and care for living things

CONTINUOUS PROVISION ENHANCEMENT:
Our new classroom pet "Buffy" provides daily opportunities for:
•Scientific observation and recording
•Responsibility and care-giving skills
•Mathematical concepts (growth, measurement, time)
•Language development through discussion and questioning
•Understanding of life cycles and living things

These experiences exemplify our commitment to delivering an ambitious, broad and rich curriculum that prepares our children for future learning success while fostering their natural curiosity and love of learning.