Lanterns Nursery School and Extended Services

04/10/2026

💬🖼️ Communication in Grasshoppers 🖼️💬

Communication is at the heart of everything we do in Grasshoppers. We are a communication-rich classroom where visuals are used throughout our daily routines, activities and play. We use PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), aided language boards, choice boards, visual key rings and objects of reference.

We also use Makaton throughout the day, including during songs, activities and everyday conversations to support children's understanding, communication and transitions throughout the day.

Many of our Grasshoppers need extra time to process information, and visual supports help make language clearer and more meaningful. By providing these tools consistently, we help children understand what is happening, express their wants and needs, and build confidence in their communication skills.

We are so proud of the progress our children make every day as they develop their understanding and find their own voices. 💚🐞✨

02/10/2026

We are looking for volunteers who would enjoy spending time with our Caterpillar babies.

We would love some extra pairs of hands to help with simple activities such as:
Reading stories
Singing songs and nursery rhymes
Playing in the garden or sandpit
Supporting babies during play
Helping with small tasks such as washing up or folding laundry

Perhaps a grandparent, auntie, uncle or family friend would enjoy becoming part of our Caterpillar community. We would also welcome young people who are interested in gaining experience working with young children.

Volunteers will need to:
✅ Be comfortable getting up and down from the floor
✅ Complete a DBS check before starting
✅ Follow our nursery safeguarding procedures
✅ Work alongside staff members at all times

Our babies thrive on warm, responsive interactions, and an extra cuddle, story or song can make a huge difference to their day. We would welcome volunteers for an hour a week up to a full day a week.

For more information, please drop an email to [email protected]

01/10/2026

🦋 This Week in Butterflies 🦋

This week, the Butterflies children have been making the most of the lovely weather and spending lots of time in the garden. They have enjoyed kicking, throwing, catching, batting, rolling and aiming balls, helping to strengthen their coordination and control.

The children have also loved exploring our range of wheeled toys, including bikes, trikes and scooters. As they ride, steer and navigate around their friends, they are building balance, spatial awareness and confidence in their movements 🌟🚲⚽️🛴

30/09/2026

Don’t forget, NCT Breastfeeding Support is available at Lanterns every Wednesday morning
💚

The team are absolutely amazing and offer a warm, friendly space for support, reassurance and advice. 🤱✨

25/09/2026

🍃Welcome to Grasshoppers! 🍃

Grasshoppers is a calm, low-distraction environment that is carefully structured to meet the needs of our children.

Through a balance of targeted interventions, guided learning and play, we support each child's individual development. Our day begins with a carousel of activities, where children are gently supported to explore different areas of learning while having lots of fun along the way.

We are so proud of how well our Grasshoppers have settled in already this term and can't wait to get to know them better as we continue our journey together! 💚✨

20/09/2026

🌟 Keeping Our Babies Safe 🌟

At Lanterns, the safety and wellbeing of our children is always our top priority.

This week, members of our team attended Infant Safeguarding Training delivered by the Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership. The training provided an opportunity to refresh and strengthen our knowledge around key areas of infant safety, including:

💙 Safe Sleep guidance
💙 Baby bruising protocols
💙 ICON (Infant Crying Is Normal)

Regular training helps ensure our team remains up to date with the latest guidance and best practice, enabling us to provide the highest standard of care and support for babies and their families.

We are committed to continuous professional development and to creating a safe, nurturing environment where every child can thrive. 💛

If you'd like to take a look at what the Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership can offer parents, here is the link:

This resource is for adults who would like more information or support around safeguarding issues for children and young people up to the age of 18.

18/09/2026

💛 Safety and Belonging in Butterflies 🦋

Before children can learn, explore and thrive, they need to feel safe, secure and valued.

That's why our first curriculum focus is Safety and Belonging. We spend time building relationships, getting to know one another and helping children feel confident that Butterflies is a place where they belong.

When children feel secure, their confidence grows. They begin to explore, make friendships, share their ideas and embrace new experiences. ✨

🏡 Try this at home: Share a special moment together this week, whether it's reading a story, going for a walk, looking at family photos or playing a favourite game.

💭 Ask your child: "What made you smile today?"

17/09/2026

🌟 Make a Difference: Become a School Governor! 🌟

Are you looking for a rewarding way to give back to your local community and support young people in their education? 🏫✨ We are looking for enthusiastic, dedicated individuals to join our Governing Body! 🙌

You do not need prior experience in education to be a great governor. 🤝

We welcome people from all backgrounds who can bring unique skills, fresh perspectives, and a genuine passion for helping our school community thrive. 🌱

What Does a Governor Do?
🎯 Provide Strategic Direction: Work alongside school leadership to set the vision, values, and goals for the school.
🤝 Support and Challenge: Help ensure high standards of education and wellbeing for all pupils.
📊 Oversee Resources: Monitor school performance, budgets, and key policies to ensure the best outcomes for our children.

Time Commitment ⏰
📅 Meetings: Attend a monthly 2-hour meeting on one Tuesday each month, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
📑 Preparation: Spend a small amount of time reading reports and policies ahead of meetings.
🏫 School Visits: Take part in one school monitoring visit each term, which usually takes around 2 hours.

Why Become a Governor? 💡
📈 Gain valuable experience in strategic planning, leadership, and governance.
🎓 Access full training and ongoing support from local governor services.
❤️ Make a real, lasting impact on the lives of children and families in your community.

Interested in Learning More? 🤔
If you have the time and enthusiasm to support our school, we would love to hear from you! 📬

📧 Email: [email protected]
👤 Chair of Governors: [email protected]
📞 Phone: (01962) 860393

16/09/2026

🐛💚 A Warm Welcome in Caterpillars 💚🐛

Over the past few weeks, our Caterpillar Room has been full of smiles, cuddles, discoveries and new beginnings as we welcome both returning families and those joining us for the very first time.

There is something incredibly special about getting to know our new babies and their families, building trusting relationships and creating those precious bonds that help children feel happy, secure and ready to explore. Watching little personalities begin to shine through is one of the greatest joys of our work.

It has also been wonderful to welcome back familiar faces and see just how much our returning children have grown and developed. The changes in their confidence, independence, communication and curiosity are simply amazing, and we feel so privileged to be part of their journey.

As our new cohort settles in, we have been carefully adapting our room environment, routines and experiences to meet the needs and interests of the children currently in our care. Creating a nurturing, engaging and responsive space helps ensure every child feels valued, supported and inspired to learn.

We are so excited for the year ahead and look forward to making many more happy memories together with all our Caterpillar families. 🥰🍃