Spring Childcare Layfield

28/08/2026

Inspired by all of the beautiful butterflies we have had in our garden over the summer, we had an exciting delivery of some caterpillars to watch grow. This week, they have changed into chrysalises and are currently in their cocoons, so we are eagerly waiting to see what emerges!

We linked our book of the week to this exciting opportunity and have been enjoying reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The children have painted caterpillars, baked butterfly biscuits and prepared tasty snacks using the fruits that the caterpillar ate through in the story.

It has been a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn about the fascinating life cycle of a butterfly through hands-on experiences, creativity and, of course, lots of delicious food!

26/08/2026

Last week, our Book of the Week was There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

The children used widget symbols to help them recall, sequence and retell the story. They also reflected on older members of society and shared their own experiences of spending time with grandparents and older family members.

The children enjoyed exploring some traditional activities and objects, including having a go at knitting, looking at old photographs and discovering how old-fashioned telephones worked. We also enjoyed making good old-fashioned cups of tea and drinking them from china cups – something we decided is always a favourite with grandparents!

It was a lovely opportunity for the children to connect the story with their own experiences while developing an appreciation for older generations, traditional activities and family memories.

25/08/2026

At Spring by Action for Children, we know that strong, trusting relationships are at the heart of a child's early years. From a comforting hand to a helping hand, our practitioners are there to support, encourage and nurture every step of the way.

Behind every positive experience is a passionate team who care deeply about giving children the very best start in life.

We're always looking for dedicated, caring people to join our growing teams across Spring. If you're passionate about early years and want to make a real difference to children and families, we'd love to hear from you.

See what roles we have available now here: https://springchildcare.co.uk/careers/ or send your CV to [email protected]

21/08/2026

Activity for the weekend...

Edible paints gives young children the freedom to explore colours, textures and smells while creating their own artwork. It also supports:

✨ Fine motor skills and hand control
✨ Hand–eye coordination
✨ Creativity and imagination
✨ Language development through describing colours and textures
✨ Sensory exploration and curiosity

Please share some photos with us if you try the activity at home.

20/08/2026

Only a few weeks to go until some of our children begin their exciting adventure into Reception! ✨

Starting school is a big milestone, and there are lots of little things you can do at home to help your child feel confident, independent and school ready.

Here are some of our top tips to help prepare them for this exciting new chapter! 🌟

19/08/2026

Lots of our children are toilet training at the moment. Toilet training can be a big step for children, so try to be patient, positive and encouraging.

Give your child plenty of opportunities to use the toilet or potty, dress them in easy-to-manage clothing, and celebrate their efforts rather than focusing on accidents. Remember, every child is different and will progress at their own pace.

For more helpful top tips and advice about toilet training, please visit Parent Talk by Action for Children: Potty & toilet training advice⁠�

18/08/2026

Testimonial Tuesday...

17/08/2026

If you haven’t already done so, don’t forget to apply for or renew your Early Years Funding Code before 31st August.

15/08/2026

14/08/2026

Our story this week is ‘Farmer Duck’ 🦆 The children are really enjoying joining in with the repeated phrases in the story - “How goes the work?” and “Quack!”

The farmer in the story is very lazy - he stays in his pyjamas all day, and makes his friend, the duck, do all the farm work, which makes the duck tired and sad. We have talked about how it’s important to help each other - for example, when it’s tidy up time in nursery, or at home when our families ask us to put our dirty clothes in the washing basket!

So far this week, we have made barns and farm houses from cardboard boxes, we have acted out the story with puppets, we have cleaned muddy farm animals, and we have been singing Old MacDonald with the bag of puppets too - as well as all the other fun things that we usually do in preschool!