RFTS - The Arches Early Years and Afterschool Service

07/08/2026

This week we enjoyed a shorter and calmer week, following the children’s interests and allowing them to take the lead in their play and learning. The children enjoyed some fun challenge activities including stacking paper cups with rubber bands and building with spaghetti and Blu Tack! 🏗️✨ We also spent lots of time outdoors enjoying the fresh air, movement and child-led play. ☀️🌳

31/07/2026

This week we enjoyed a fun-filled Role Play Week, where the children explored a variety of imaginative scenarios, including a campsite, a hospital, a crime scene, and a veterinary clinic.

Role play is a wonderful way for children to develop their communication, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Throughout the week, they confidently took on different roles, worked together to create stories, and used their imaginations to make sense of the world around them. It has been fantastic to see their ideas come to life as they explored real-life experiences through play.

29/07/2026

24/07/2026

This week we had a blast exploring all things holidays and airports by turning our space into a fun airport! The afterschoolers jumped right into role play and did not miss a thing, from security checks to passport control and even duty-free shopping. We also got crafty with some holiday themed art, making paper fans and colorful crepe paper lollipops. To wrap up the week, we treated ourselves to some tasty strawberry slushie drinks, made from frozen strawberries, ice and honey!

17/07/2026

This week in Afterschool, we had a fantastic Chef Week! The children became little chefs, creating their own chef hats and making ice pops, Rice Krispies buns, smoothies, and pizza.
This hands-on experience not only taught them basic cooking skills but also encouraged teamwork and healthy eating habits. The children learned about healthy eating choices and the importance of nutrition, fostering an appreciation for fresh ingredients.🧑‍🍳🥝🍓

10/07/2026

Another scorcher this week up at The Arches. We started this week focusing on different ways of communicating and expressing how we feel. The children made up secret languages, studied sign language, practiced their emotion faces, and put on performances of puppet shows and concerts all week! It was a joy to see their creativity shine and to remind them of the importance of their voice in any way it shows up. Like all fun weeks, we also took detours, spending time outside splashing around. The children caught some rays, and enjoyed ice pops and lemonade in the sun. A week full of laughs and learning. One to remember!

02/07/2026

This week at Afterschool, we followed the children's interests by exploring all things World Cup! The children enjoyed football training in the garden, designed their own football kits, and decorated colourful flags to display in the classroom.

It has been wonderful to see their creativity, teamwork and enthusiasm shine throughout the week! 🌟⚽

02/07/2026

The last two weeks of preschool have been full of fun, excitement, and wonderful memories! 🎉

From Crazy Hair Day and dress-up days to our Teddy Bears' Picnic and pizza party, we've had so much to celebrate and enjoy together.

This week, we marked a very special milestone—our Preschool Graduation! 🎓 It was a fabulous day, and we loved celebrating with all our wonderful family and friends. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special. We wish all the children going to school in September the very best of luck and we will see all the returning Children in September. Enjoy your summer.

26/06/2026

When life gives you lemons! We beat the heat this week in Afterschool with some outdoor activities. The children had an outdoor sponge race, promoting teamwork and perseverance, as well as helping us keep cool! We made our own lemonade and everyone got a nice cold drink to enjoy in the sun, some of them trying lemonade for the first time! The lemonade stand was accompanied with homemade signs, allowing everyone to express themselves creatively. The children showed their imagination in the garden all week, setting up ice cream stands and digging for buried treasure.

12/06/2026

This week in Afterschool we made our own diaries📔It was such a great chance to celebrate everything that makes each child unique. The children also felt a real sense of ownership as they got to work on the diary every day, making whatever improvements and adjustments they wanted. They got to learn about their emotions, likes and dislikes, and drew their friends and family🧍🏼‍♀️🧍🏽