July 2025 Newsletter

Little Chums has emailed out a newsletter for July 2025.

Didn't receive a copy of the newsletter by email?

Read it here...

Wedding Request

As mentioned in our June newsletter, staff member Rachael is getting married and the big day is tomorrow, Thursday 19th June! 

To allow members of staff to attend the evening celebration in Cardiff, we are asking if it is at all possible for you to collect your children slightly earlier?  If so, that would be extremely appreciated!

We’re sure that all of you join us wishing her the best for a fantastic day!

Sun Safe Nursery Accreditation

We are pleased to inform you that Little Chums Day Nursery has renewed it's annual 'Sun Safe Nurseries' accreditation which demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the health and wellbeing of your child(ren) during the hours they are with us.  Our certificate is at the bottom of this news article as well as being displayed in our entrance ways. 

The scheme has been developed by national skin cancer charity 'Skcin', to assist nurseries and pre-school settings in implementing a successful sun safety policy, whilst educating children to increase knowledge, influence behaviour and prevent skin cancer.

Whilst we recognise that some sun is good for us, sun safety is an important health and safety issue. Children spend almost half their childhood at pre and primary school, with a great deal of time spent outdoors. During the warmer months of the year children are exposed to Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) from the sun, the majority of which is when penetration is strongest (between 11am and 3pm). Without adequate protection, a child's delicate skin can easily burn, this can cause cumulative and irreparable damage that could significantly increase their risk of developing skin cancer in later life.

Over the last couple of months, we have already asked via newsletters and online for parents to provide a high factor sun cream (SPF 50, with UVA & UVB protection) and hat which also covers the neck.  We thank those parents who have already provided those!  We also remind you to, on very warm sunny days, ensure your child arrives at Little Chums for their session with loose fitting clothing that covers as much of the arms and shoulders as possible.

A copy of our full sun care policy is available on request.

You can download a copy of the Skcin charity sun care information booklet here...

More information and resources can be found on the Sun Safe Nurseries website here...

Preschool Athletics

Yesterday, Preschool took part in an athletics session arrange by the Torfaen 'Healthy and Sustainable Preschool' officer. 

The children enjoyed the fresh air, playing games and getting some exercise!

See some photos in our album here... 

Puddle Play

Where has the nice weather gone?!?!?

 

A little bit of rain hasn't stopped Toddlers getting out for a walk in their wet weather gear...

...although there is a STRONG suspicion that the real reason was to stomp in some puddles!

See the photos on our Facebook page here...

June 2025 Newsletter

Little Chums has emailed out a newsletter for June 2025.

Didn't receive a copy of the newsletter by email?

Read it here...

Wild Flower Seed Sowing

We're still trying really hard with our wild flower patch, but all we've managed to grow so far is grass, dandelions, daisies and buttercups! There seem to be more flowers growing in other places other than the patch!

To try and grow more, Toddlers were at the patch today sowing more wild flower seed and watering the ground.

 

Hopefully, more flowers will grow over the next few months and we can then compare them to the information posters that are now on display next to the patch!

 

See photos of Toddlers in the wild flower patch on our Facebook page here...

New Outdoor Equipment

Yesterday, Little Chums took delivery of a 'load' of new outdoor play equipment, just in time for the weather to turn all gloomy and rainy!  However, today it is was a little brighter and sunnier, so Preschool took the chance to get outside and try out some of the new toys, games and equipment!

We've also purchased some new equipment for the baby end of the garden, including a new see-saw/balance bench and a couple of new picnic benches.

There should also be a few other toys and games arriving soon, but we'll leave those as a surprise!

To see photos of Preschool trying out the new equipment, visit the album here...

Great Ormond Street

This June, staff member Holly Bailey is undertaking the 'Great Family Walk' to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

She’ll be walking 42 miles throughout the month (the same as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro!) to raise money to help build the new Children’s cancer centre at GOSH.

Every week, around five children in the UK lose their lives to cancer. That’s five families who are faced with the worst news possible. GOSH already cares for children with the hardest-to-treat cancers, and new treatments are giving hope to kids across the UK. But these advances have outstripped GOSH’s current cancer facilities.

If you feel able to help Holly raise money for this cause, please click here... 

Fresh Air Play

After a few miserable, overcast days with light rain showers, the weather has been stunning today with a bright blue sky and hardly any clouds!

All of the children have been taking advantage, getting outside into the sunshine and fresh air!

Whether playing in the garden and getting active on all the equipment, chilling in the literacy reading shed and outdoor classrooms or going for short nature walks to collect some leaves and flowers, a wonderful time was had by all!

See photos in the album here...

Kids Wagon

Thanks to a generous donation from a family member, we now have a 'kids wagon', a cart with 4 seats for children to sit in and be pushed around.

Toddlers thought they'd give it a try today with a short walk up to the field at the end of the drive, hoping to see the farmer at work. He wasn't around, so the children went to check the wild flower patch only to find wild flowers growing everywhere other than in the patch where seed was sown last year!

And the children loved the 'wagon' - not just sitting in it, but actually pushing it to!  We hope to use it over the coming summer to take even more children for longer walks!

See some photos on our Facebook page here...

VE Day Celebrations

Today was the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, 'Victory in Europe' day.  As you can imagine, it was difficult explaining to very young children the true meaning of something very horrible that ended 80 years ago.  Therefore, at Little Chums we focussed on doing some fun activities focusses on 'red, white and blue', ending with a tea party towards the end of the day.

Throughout the day, the children listened to stories, made and flew Spitfire paper aeroplanes, played with any toy that was red, white or blue and listened to music from the 1930's and 40's.  Fortunately there were no microphones around so you are spared Lauren and Holly's truly awful rendition of 'White Cliffs of Dover'!

To see photos of the day, visit the photo album here...

Walk to School Week 2025

Walk to School Week is an annual UK wide event and this year is taking place between May 19th and 23rd. The aim is to encourage children and families to walk or cycle to school, promoting physical activity, healthy travel habits and a more sustainable commute. This year's challenge is called "The Great Space Walk" and encourages daily active travel.

We fully appreciate that due to the location of Little Chums this is a little harder to accomplish, so we are encouraging our families to walk in different ways!  To help out, the Healthy & Sustainable Preschool coordinator from Torfaen has provided us with some 'Little Feet' packs from the 'Living Streets' scheme. These packs contain information and activity leaflets for families, along with journey maps and stickers. More information about the scheme can be found here...

Parents of children in Toddlers and Preschool will shortly be receiving a leaflet. Should you take up the challenge, please share your photos and progress with us on our Facebook post here...

VE Day Preparations

On Thursday 8th May, as part of the weeks VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations, at Little Chums we will be doing simple art and craft, reading stories and having a small, light afternoon tea of sandwiches and cake.

Children are welcome to come dressed in something red, white or blue or all three!

Please also spend some time this week at home watching some of the events on television!

Feeding Ducklings

Hot on the heels of Tots, Baby Group went for a stroll down the canal today to feed the ducks and their ducklings, before stopping at the canal basin for a quick snack and drink!

See the photos on our Facebook page here...